Finding Motivation To Exercise During Covid-19

Keeping up exercise motivation during lockdown is genuinely hard — here's what's worked for me.

A structured routine matters when you're spending most of your time at home, since the days can blur together. Every Sunday I map out my workout schedule for the week — an early morning run, a midday HIIT session, a bit of yoga.

Virtual workouts help with the isolation — train with someone in your household, or join friends over Zoom, FaceTime or Houseparty. Plenty of personal trainers run free Instagram Live sessions covering everything from strength training to yoga.

A dedicated space for your workout makes a real difference to motivation, and it doesn't need expensive kit — a yoga mat, a resistance band, even plant pots as makeshift weights.

Above all, pick exercise you actually enjoy. I absolutely loathe HIIT sessions, and the thought of push ups and burpees makes me want to vomit! Mix in the things you don't love for variety, but build your routine around what you genuinely like doing — that's what keeps it sustainable.