So we’ve been stuck around the house worried about what we can do to prevent contact with people who might have the coronavirus. We’ve been practicing good social distancing. We’ve cleaned everything that we might have touched, ever. We’re washing our hands, a lot. What else can we do?

One of the things COVID-19 does is attack the lungs. Doing some simple things to strengthen those vital organs can give you a leg up if you do end up contracting the coronavirus. We’ve made a quick list of ways to strengthen your lungs without leaving the comfort of your house or neighborhood.

1) Don’t Smoke

Seems obvious, but smoking weakens your lungs. Now might be a great time to quit if you’ve been trying unsuccessfully.

2) Take a Walk or Ride a Bike

The streets around here don’t seem to be filled with people, so you can practice some good social distancing and still get outside for some fresh air and a little exercise. For most people, a brisk, mile-long walk every day will do wonders for their heart and lungs. If you’re biking, shoot for five miles.

3) Jumping Jacks

You can do jumping jacks anywhere. Doing a hundred a day not only helps strengthen your lungs, but it’s also great cardio and a full-body workout.

4) Got Stairs?

Put them to use. Aiming for 15 minutes of stair work can burn fat, strengthen your muscles, and increase lung capacity.

5) Deep Breathing

This is a simple technique you can use to relieve stress and increase oxygen in your body. Lie on your back and put a pillow under your knees. You can also sit in a chair, just make sure you’re sitting up straight. Breathe in through your nose and let your belly fill with air. Breathe out through your nose. To make sure you're doing it right, put one hand on your belly and one hand on your chest. The hand on your belly should be moving more than the one on your chest. Three breaths is good for stress relief. Spend about five minutes doing this for even more benefits.

6) Another Breathing Technique

This one’s called the 4-7-8 technique and we’ve seen variations of it around the internet. It is good for relaxation and some folks use it to help them get to sleep. Start in a comfortable sitting position, but remember your posture. Empty your lungs of air, then breathe in through your nose for four seconds. Next, hold your breath for seven seconds. Then breathe out through your mouth for eight seconds. When you’re breathing out, try to push the air; think of making a ‘whoosh’ sound. And repeat.

A couple of links

Healthline has some fun breathing techniques to practice here.

And if you’re looking for a quick in-house workout with some variety, check out this 10-minute routine on Self.com.

Now it’s your turn. What did we miss? Did we get anything wrong? What’s your go-to cardio routine when you can’t get to the gym or don’t have any equipment? Are there breathing techniques that work for you? Let us know in the comments. Let’s get the information flowing.

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