Your Guide to Virtual Workouts, Meditation and More

If you’re stuck at home, it’s easy to feel stressed or even depressed. And when those feelings hit, it’s common to find comfort in junk food and TV as you sink deeper into that divot you’ve been creating on the couch.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to harness technology and the internet for the purpose of keeping fit and staying sane, even in uncertain times like these. We’re talking about online workout classes and wellness apps, grocery delivery, much-needed meditation and more. See below for seven ways to stay healthy at home.

If your favorite gym or studio is closed, that doesn’t mean you can’t work out. It also doesn’t mean you have to be responsible for creating and executing your own exercise regimen — or impulse-buying a Peloton. Instead, try perusing the wide variety of online fitness classes available, and you’ll find something for whatever you’re into. For starters, MyFitnessPal has hundreds of bodyweight exercises you can do anywhere and log, complete with how-to videos. Fitness studios and gyms are offering Zoom classes live, or you can follow your favorite fitness trainers on Instagram for even more inspiring workouts.

Or a regular hike. But if you’d like to enlist music for the benefit of health and well-being, MindTravel offers piano-based digital downloads to listen to while you walk. The “silent” here is simply because you can listen through your headphones. The company also offers music meant to help you meditate, sleep and focus at work.

If you don’t want to leave the house to secure food, let that food come to you. Grocery delivery options abound, from Imperfect Foods to Instacart to Amazon, and provide everything from dry-good staples to fresh produce, meat and seafood. You can also try a meal-subscription kit like Blue Apron or Hello Fresh, which give you everything you need to prepare meals at home, including instructions that walk you through each step of the process. You can also use Uber Eats or DoorDash to get takeout from some of your favorite local restaurants.

Now that your fridge and pantry are stocked, use that food to try a bunch of new recipes. MyFitnessPal has tons, of course, and features dishes across a wide variety of cuisines and diets. So do many of your favorite magazines, websites and cooking apps. Whip up something new for dinner tonight, or make a batch of comforting soup to last a few days.

Meditation has been shown to provide physical and mental benefits, from decreasing blood pressure and lowering stress to boosting mood and improving sleep. You don’t need anything to meditate, except a few moments to yourself, but there are popular apps that can help guide your practice. Calm and Headspace offer something for everyone, whether you’re hoping to increase mindfulness or want to try mantra-based or breathing-based programs. There’s no shortage of options, so look around to find the best app for what you’re hoping to achieve.

If you’d like to take things a step further, you can use Talkspace to speak with a licensed therapist via text, phone or video. Simply answer a few questions to get started, choose your preferred therapist from a selection of matches, then lean on the non-judgmental guidance of a professional.

If you miss your workout buddies from the gym or your favorite studio, you can still interact with them online. The MyFitnessPal Community lets you form private groups and has public message boards where you can share workout tips, recipes and success stories to keep you motivated. Join, and you’ll find like-minded individuals ready with positive feedback to help you stay on track and hit your goals.