We have been dealing with the COVID-19 global pandemic for 7 long months now – with no real end in sight. We are trying to find our new normal by getting back to school and work, but as a society we haven’t quite figured out what the best way to keep ourselves and those around us safe yet.
As I read the continually updated data regarding COVID-19 and the attack on the chronically ill, elderly and overweight CrossFIt’s Sickness -Wellness -Fitness continuum immediately came to my mind. People who suffer from obesity, diabetes, or heart disease are more likely to have COVID related complications. (Diabetes and heart disease may or may nor be obesity related.)
Selfishly, I located myself on the continuum to see where I would fall if contracting the virus. Then I started placing my family on the chart, then my friends and gym family.
The general key theme to making any significant and long-lasting life and habit changes is, unfortunately, usually a major life event. What is sad about this change is that it is generally a little late in the game – such as cancer or diabetes diagnosis.
Granted, this is a reversible process and you are never too late to change to get great benefits, but preventing something like diabetes is a better plan. This requires early change – but HOW!!! How do we get people to not only see a need to change, but to MAKE the change, make it early, and make it stick?!
People (including myself) have the mentality of “this will never happen to me”. We see examples of it in college towns across the country. Why do we think we are immune? We see the lives around us and things that can happen, but we put ourselves in this “bubble” of immunity. So, maybe the process of change should come with the realization that WE ARE NOT IMMUNE.
The recent and on-going COVID-19 outbreak should definitely be an eye opener that we are not immune. And maybe now should be a time for us to evaluate where we are on the Sickness – Wellness – Fitness continuum. This means it is also a time to invest in our own health and make the changes we need to move as close to FIT as we can to create a hedge against sickness.
Many are still undergoing quarantine and self-isolation. We still have restrictions on what activities we can do and how we can do them, but this is NOT a time to be sedentary. This is the prime time to invest in all aspects of your health – including spiritual and emotional health!
Mental wellness is important (now more than ever!) Stress can lead to (and exacerbate) any disease process. Having a plan in place to step away from the hype, the news, and social media is important. You could choose to read, walk, write, play a game, start a hobby, etc. This will be different for everyone, but the important point is establishing a plan to refresh your mind, just as you do your body.
That leads me to the next point – our physical health. Changes are most likely going to take place in people when they have accountability. Relying on yourself to do home workouts and exercise is not productive for most people.
There are a variety of exercise options out there. At Recursive, we offer small group classes (following all of the safety procedures and protocols put out by our local, county, and state governments), remote coaching through an app, virtual personal training, and nutrition services (either in person or virtually.)
I encourage you to figure out what works best for you, and then invest in that method for accountability. The option you chose will vary, but I think we all know we need to change and we need to do our part in keeping ourselves as close to FIT as possible. Let this current worldwide pandemic be your eye opener and your reason to change!
If you would like help making this change, schedule a free No Sweat Intro at Recursive (you don’t have to be local for us to help you.) We will get together in person or virtually and discuss your goals and the programs available to you to best fit those goals, your current situation, and budget. Together, we’ll come up with a plan to get you where you want to be!