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Are you getting bored with your current workout? Circuit training may be a good option for you. In a circuit training workout, you’ll move briskly between different “stations” that focus on different muscle groups, doing 10-25 reps or performing a particular movement for 30-90 seconds.

For example, you might do 10-25 bicep curls, then 10-25 lunges, and then move to a 45-second front plank.

A circuit training workout can last anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour, depending on your fitness and goals.

While you can do circuit training in a gym with weight machines and dumbbells, you don’t always need gym equipment to do it – you can do exercises that rely primarily on your own body weight. Because you are constantly moving from exercise to exercise, it is excellent for your cardiovascular health. Depending on the exercises you do, you can customize a circuit to your specific needs, whether those be strength, weight loss, agility, or endurance.

Circuit training is very flexible, but it is not for everyone. If you have arthritis, be sure to choose low-impact exercises (avoid jumping jacks, for instance). If you have a back or knee injury, wait to circuit train until you are healed. Not sure where to start? Check HERE for an introductory circuit, complete with instructions for each exercise.

RESOURCES

9 Science-Backed Benefits of Circuit Training (healthline.com)
Circuit Training: What You Do, Benefits, and More (webmd.com)
What is Circuit Training? | Examples of Circuit Training (stretchcoach.com)

Most of us need a little help with our mental health from time to time. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Thankfully, there are hundreds of mental health apps developed by professionals to help you address your specific concerns — everything from anxiety and PTSD to depression and ADHD — from the privacy of your own device.

Many of these apps can be used to improve your mental health on your own or to enhance regular therapist or psychiatrist visits; some can even help connect you to a therapist virtually. There are free and paid options, and some companies include access to an app as part of their total benefits package.

Apps like Calm and Headspace help you develop mindfulness, which can ease your anxiety. They can help you learn to meditate and sleep better, whether you have practiced meditation before or are brand-new to it.

If you’re looking for something a little more engaging, or need a quick pick-me-up, try Happify. The app uses a series of science-based short activities and games each day to help you develop positive thought patterns and overall happiness.

Having trouble tracking your mood and symptoms? Try Bearable. This app is a straightforward and user-friendly way to help you track your mood, medications, symptoms, and many other day-to-day variables. From this data, Bearable will create charts that you can use to identify patterns or as an aid in therapy.

This is just a small sample of the available apps. Check HERE for an expert-created resource to help you sort through them. Help is at your fingertips!

RESOURCES

10 Useful Mental Health Apps to Use in 2022 (healthline.com)
The Best Mental Health Apps of 2022 (verywellmind.com)

Single-use plastics, such as disposable water bottles and plastic bags, are an environmental problem. When thrown out, they clog up oceans and river and are harmful to both plants and animals. It may be difficult to avoid single-use plastic altogether, but there are a handful of simple ways you can do your part to help cut down waste.