Exercise Routines You Can Do in Your Dorm Room
We go our entire lives hearing about the benefits of staying active but it’s much harder to remember that and find the motivation to exercise when we’re in the middle of deadlines and papers.
In all the chaos that comes with school, we don’t always prioritize our bodies’ needs, yet exercise has been shown to have amazing effects time and time again. Better concentration, greater motivation, and an increase in energy- all of these can help pull us out of the funk that almost inevitably comes with university life.
Still, finding the time and means to exercise isn’t easy. So, here are four exercises you can do right in your dorm room. Click on the links below to find some quick and easy videos if you learn better by watching.
Even though it’s not usually a crowd-pleaser, sit-ups are a quick and easy way to give your mind a break. Doing just fifteen or twenty is enough to feel the burn!
Instructions:
- Lay down, bend your legs, and put your feet flat on the floor. Your hands can either go across your chest or behind your neck.
- Once you’re in position, pull your core and upper body up towards your knees.
You know what they say, time to walk the plank. Except, in this case, the water is nonexistent, there’s no Jack Sparrow, and you’re the plank. But you get to practice your posture while you try and see how long you can hold the position, so that’s a plus. Can you hold it for one song? Two? Three?
Instructions:
- Get into position, with your stomach on the ground
- Instead of holding yourself up on your hands, you’re going to use your forearms instead. Make sure your back is as straight as a...well, plank and remember to take deep breaths!
Can you hold it for one song? Two? Three? Resume the same position, except instead of holding yourself up on your hands, you’re going to use your forearms instead. Make sure your back is straight and remember to take deep breaths!
As horrendous as push-ups may seem, they’re usually a favorite because they work out areas of your body, especially your arms. Again, a little goes a long way.
Instructions:
- Hold yourself in a plank position with your back straight and your hands shoulder-width apart.
- When you go down for the push-up, remember that your chest should almost (but not quite!) touch the floor. As a general guideline, you should leave enough space in between the floor and your chest that your first could fit in the gap.
By the end of your push-up set, your arms should be ready to tackle your ten-page paper!
In my personal experience, I don’t think there’s a form of exercise more demanding than wall sits, but maybe that’s just my two cents. However, the upside is that unlike the previous two, this exercise can be short and easy.
Instructions:
- Sit against the wall as if there’s an invisible chair and hold the position for as long as you can
- Your legs and chest should be at a ninety-degree angle—no more, no less.
Who said you couldn’t do math and work out at the same time?
Jumping Jacks
Here is an exercise you can do literally anywhere and anytime (unless there are people sleeping downstairs). All you’ve got to do is jump with your legs wide and your hands touching overhead. Jumping jacks work your legs, abdomen, hip flexors, quadriceps and shoulder muscles.
There you have it, four (kind of) easy exercises you can do in your dorm room! So next time, instead of opting for the delicious and addictive energy drinks, try these. They might hurt and be time-consuming at first, but eventually, they’ll fit right into your studying routine, along with Youtube and Instagram breaks.
Arm Circles
This exercise doesn’t require a lot of movement, so you can literally do it whenever and wherever you want. All you’ve got to do is stand straight, extend your arms to the side (at 90 degrees of your body) and move them in circles forward, this movement will work your biceps and shoulders. After a few reps do in reverse as well so you can work your triceps as well.
Squats
These are probably the most common exercises, but they’re pretty essential if you want strong legs. Squats are good if you want to have toned legs, and a firm booty. Also, you’re burning calories as you’re gaining muscle. It’s essential you perform this exercise well, hence have a straight back while squatting if you want to get the most out of it.
Lunges
This exercise is very good at developing lower body strength, as it works your hips, thighs, glutes and hamstrings. It requires you to step forward with one leg, then bent your knee and tap the ground with the other knee. Stay still if you want to increase resistance. A lot of people prefer lunges over squats as there’s more movement, hence while you walk, you can add some lunges and work that body.
Struggling to balance life as a student? Check out this video about the 5 best apps to help you stay organized!
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