Moving is stressful, even when you’re moving to a place as migrant friendly as Pune. And between all the organisation and effort that moving involves, from figuring out how to rent a house in Pune, to talking to landlords, to hiring movers and starting a new job or college, it’s often your healthy habits that get left behind. You just can’t prioritise your fitness when you’re trying to get everything else in order. But fast-forward a few months and you suddenly realise that you’ve ended up sleep-deprived, eating unhealthy food and without any memories of recent exercise. And that’s not going to help you feel like your best self. Which is why we’re here to help. We’ve got some tips to help you stay fit and healthy even after you move to a new city so that your health doesn’t take the backseat. Let’s check it out!
Start moving
This is the most obvious step that you need to take, and there’s no better time than now to do it. Even before you think about structured exercise as a part of your life, you need to start increasing the amount of movement that you have in a day. Think about it, if you spend most of your time sitting at your desk with your laptop or lying in bed scrolling through your phone, your muscles are getting used to inaction. And that’s not good for them. So, make it a point to try and move about every twenty minutes throughout the day. Even if it’s just a small stretch or a quick walk around your house or office, that little bit of movement will make you feel more active and improve your focus too.
Eat right
Getting fit is not just about hitting the gym or going on a diet, it’s about ensuring that you give your body the fuel that it needs. If you’re someone who’s surviving on only junk food and packaged snacks, it’s perfectly natural for that to affect your stamina and energy levels, not to mention your concentration and mood. And if you’re always on a frugal diet, it’s probably going to leave you feeling crabby and low energy too. Instead of restricting your meals or overindulging on fast food, make it a point to increase your fruit and vegetable intake and eat fresh, seasonal produce. This will help your body absorb nutrients better and help you get in shape a lot quicker as well.
There’s no shame in taking it slow
Getting fit is not an overnight process, and neither is staying that way. If you really want to make a sustainable change to your lifestyle, you’re going to need to take it slow. And that’s perfectly fine. You can’t learn how to run a marathon in a day. Give yourself time to get used to the changes that you’re making. Start by ensuring that you’re hydrated and eating well. Then add light exercise to your weekly routine and build up from there. Remember that progress looks different for everyone and that it’s okay to take things at your own pace. Create a system that challenges you but not so much that it discourages you from continuing.
Get external help
You’re not alone on your fitness journey. And it’s perfectly okay to need some external support to help you out. If you find it difficult to exercise on your own, enlist some friends to workout with you or join a yoga or pilates class. If you think that having to find and commute to a gym in a new city is a deterrent, opt for a professionally managed accommodation like Stanza Living which has an in-house workout zone that you can use along with various other amenities. If you’re someone who likes variety, don’t be afraid to try different styles of exercise like running, cycling or swimming until you find what works best for you.
Schedule it
The most important thing to remember if you’re trying to stay fit in Pune is to make time to prioritise your health and fitness. Schedule time in your calendar for exercise and meal planning so that you can ensure that you’re able to meet your goals. And don’t forget about your sleep habits as well. Make sure that you organise your day such that you’re getting at least six hours of sleep every night. It’s difficult to feel fit and energetic without the right amount of exercise and sleep so make sure that you manage your time well to ensure it.
Fitness is a very personal thing. But it’s also really important, especially when you’re living on your own in a new city. With these tips, you should find it a little easier to start your fitness journey in Pune on the right foot. So, what are you waiting for? Get a move on!