Gyms were closed, events canceled and I wasn't doing my regular errands running - which before, would at least get me moving from the parking lot into and around the store.
Thankfully, that didn't stop me from getting active around my own house.
I moved from an apartment into a house, moving large boxes up and down flights of steps. Then came re-arranging furniture - and re-arranging it again, again and again when I couldn't find a good spot.
These were good leg workouts.
The house projects quickly began, as they often seem to with a new-to-you house. I was stripping wallpaper, ripping up carpet, putting in new light fixtures, stripping, sanding and re-staining the wooden paneling on our walls, and supporting the ladder while my future husband was on it.
These were good arm and core workouts.
Laying new grass seed and going out each day to water it got me outside. The final project was rescuing a puppy, which keeps the whole household very busy with daily walks.
These got my steps in.
It might not seem like much, but these activities, combined with cooking meals at home and eating out less, actually had me losing weight over quarantine. Plus, staying "busy" and productive has helped my mental health during these confusing times.
I would encourage everyone to find just one room or wall of the house to get started. And if you need someone to hold a ladder or caulk some nail holes - don't hesitate to reach out. I'm your girl!
Ashley Bramer is a speech-language pathologist at the Sam B. Cook Healthplex with Capital Region Medical Center. She specializes in augmentative-alternative communication devices for both children and adults, autism and medically complex/non-verbal children.