If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to get into better shape, but you always seem to have trouble keeping those pesky end-of-year promises—don’t worry. I have some ideas to bring your workout into the digital age, make it a bit more modern (and definitely more fun), and show you how to use your smart home devices to help you get and stay fit.
Use a virtual assistant for a smart fitness routine
One of the things you’ll need for your smart home workout is a smart home assistant, such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa. These voice-controlled devices are really something every home should have today, anyway. They connect to your wi-fi, letting you explore the internet and get information just by using your voice, and they let you voice-control any other connected and compatible smart devices. If you are going to modernize your workout regimen, then you need to start here.
Wake up to your workout jam
Getting out of bed early to get in shape is not an easy thing to do. If you’re like me, then you hit that snooze button like it’s a Whack-A-Mole game, and then you need to rush to get some cardio in before you have to hoof it to work. You can eliminate the stress and start your day off right just by asking your Google Home or Amazon Alexa to wake you up with your favourite workout songs. Once your power tunes are pumping, you’ll have the right inspiration to jump out of bed and get working on the new you.
Alternately, if you tend to work out later in the day or evening, you can ask Google or Alexa to remind you that you need to stop what you’re doing and start getting physical by playing your fitness playlist. Or, you can connect your virtual voice assistant to something like the Philips Hue Smart Light and have the lights start blinking 10 minutes before you need to start your workout, so you can stow away the laptop, slip into something more comfortable, and stretch out before starting to burn those calories away.
Stream new workout videos
I’m not a gym kind of person, mostly because I am a little shy about revealing my old dad bod to a bunch of totally fit people pumping iron at a gym. Also, who wants to watch a bunch of people getting all gross and sweaty? Ewww.
Instead, get all the perks of having a personal trainer anytime you want by streaming workout videos on your smart home-connected TV. Just ask Google or Alexa to play your favourite fitness videos, or even pull up a random one for a little spontaneity sometimes. Just ask the Google or Amazon assistant for whatever length and type of workout you are in the mood for and get ready to sweat (in private!).
Work out in every room
If you have a larger living space with different rooms and an upstairs and downstairs, why not invest in more than one Google Home or Amazon Alexa device, and then link and place them all over the house? That way, you can work out all over the house and never miss a beat of your favourite song as it streams to the different spaces. That is an ideal setup for doing something like training on the stairs. I know stair walking is good exercise, but it can be a bit boring to go up and down, up and down, monotonously. But, if you have your tunes playing simultaneously upstairs and down, you can keep killing it like the Energizer Bunny while zoning in to your songs.
Get healthy recipes online
We all know that nutrition is a major part of keeping fit and staying healthy. So, just ask Alexa or Google Home to find you new and healthier recipes to try out on the family. You can then have your voice-controlled virtual assistant read out the recipe, step-by-step, so you can easily create masterful meals that both taste good and are good for you.
No more lugging keys on your run
Smart Home technology isn’t just for the workout inside your home. One of the things I really hate when I go running (or take my bike out on the trails) is my keys. I don’t carry a fanny pouch or backpack, so I always have this bulging lump of keys swinging around in my pocket. It’s inconvenient and uncomfortable, and I always think I’m going to lose them and end up siting outside my house waiting for someone in my family to come home, unlock the door, and let me in.
However, if you have a smart door lock, all you need is your phone (which you take with you anyway for the running music, right?). Once connected to the smart lock, you can set it up so the door automatically locks behind you as you leave and unlocks for your return as you approach your house. The device senses your phone and knows just what to do. If you tend to go out for nighttime runs, you can do the same sort of thing with a connected outdoor smart light.
So, imagine you head out for your run just before dusk so you can watch the sun set in spectacular colours as you burn off the calories and get fit. By the time you get home from your workout, it’s already going to be dark, but luckily you’ve got your smart home set up so that when you approach the front door, the smart locks unlock and your front porch light comes on to greet you.
Those are just a few ideas for how you can get more fit with the help of your smart home devices. Do you use any of your smart home gadgets to get healthier? I’d love to know your suggestions for unique uses of smart home stuff. Give me your ideas in the comments section below, and don’t forget to check out the whole smart home section online at Best Buy.
