If you’re anything like me, then unfortunately, you too have experienced the wrath of BC housing. This year I made the big jump from Newton Campus to CoRo. Yes, everyone’s reaction is the same, “Ohhh, Newton to CoRo? How is that?” But in reality, just like everyone says, it’s really not that bad. One of the downsides to living on Upper Campus, however, is how far away from the gym it is. Cold Mornings? Bearable. Freezing rain? You’re really taking chances here. Snow? Forget about it. So how on earth is a girl supposed to get a workout in while living so far away from the Plex? Here are a few simple ways to break a sweat without making the trek to the Plex.
Utilize your room
We all know that dorm rooms are not the most ideal space for a workout, but you really can make it happen. All you need is the space in between your bed and your roommate’s bed to spread out and get down to it.
Use the floor for abs and leg exercises. The room in between the two beds is just enough for you to lie on your back and get in the necessary core work.
Use the empty wall space or the back of your door for wall-sits – just make sure to listen for someone typing in your code so they don’t accidentally knock you over when trying to come visit.
The furniture in dorm rooms is also a perfect jungle gym. Utilize the end of your bed for balance as you do one-legged squats. These are super hard, but they will really tone your legs.
Your bed can be used for inverted push-ups. Different from your standard push-up, this variation will target your shoulders and upper body.
Your desk chair can be used for some much-needed, but sometimes neglected, arm-dips.
Be creative with the rest of the space! You never know what you can get out of a semi-open space in your dorm room.
Run, girl, run!
Although this doesn’t necessarily solve the “never leaving your dorm room” problem, running is a great way to relieve stress. This may mean you have to bare the cold for a half hour, but you’ll actually stay rather warm while running. Running outside also gives you a different atmosphere that you cannot experience at the gym. There is something truly relaxing about embracing nature for a certain amount of time each day. Also, if you can, try to run without headphones. This leaves you with time to just listen to your own thoughts and de-stress about any anxieties that you have been worrying about.
Lastly, if you decide to go to the gym, go with a buddy.
I will be the first to admit that I am not one to motivate myself to get to the gym. Personally, I make excuses for why I can’t get there, when in reality I absolutely could spare an hour or two of my day. If you’re like me, then you too feel this guilt when you let time slip away without fitting in time to exercise. Despite sometimes dreading it, we must keep in mind that exercise is good for our bodies. So, how do we solve this problem? One way to be successful in a commitment to the gym is making a date with a friend. If you know that one of your friends is a “Plex girl” send her a text and pick a time when you two can go together. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you both have to workout together, but it means that you have a commitment with another person, which is hard to pass up on. This way, when you see that it is raining and you have to walk down to the Plex, know that you are doing it both for your health and your friendship.
Keep up the positivity, and know that doing even just a little something in your room is better than skipping the gym completely.
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