Creative Fitness in COVID-19 Quarantine

Let’s conduct a quick COVID Life Check-In! Comment on this post and tell me:

How are you feeling? How is your head space? What have you created? How rested are you? How much are you moving? Exercising? Smiling? 

For the past few weeks, I have dedicated 30+ minutes of every day to creative fitness: running, cycling, or getting my body moving (per the encouraging advice of Rachel Hollis, in her book “Girl Stop Apologizing” which I just finished reading, and LOVED. Ladies, check it out.) 

Amid these workouts, I very quickly increased my running distance from 1 mile, to 3, (like in the span of two workouts) and my motivation and confidence has climbed along with it! In addition to physical exercise, I am diving into all sorts of creative fitness! I have launched my Etsy shop, Gadabout Gifts, have created new artwork, and have read an entire book and a half! So many positive vibes!

Ooh, and here’s another tidbit of positivity to come from our quarantined state. 

I love that social distancing is an official rule. The introvert in me cherishes my personal bubble being SPACIOUS and filled with leg room. I love many people in my life, but among those, are a SMALL, (really tiny) group that I want within the boundaries of my bubble. (Fellow introverts, I know you’re with me on this!) Now, I have extroverted capabilities also, but am really, (somewhat perplexingly) at peace being stuck at home, so I’ve got to admit to who I am: an intro-extro-hybrid-overt! 

Okay…so the actual term is ambivert. I had to look it up, so there you go. I am an ambivert. See that? We’re learning and having fun at the same time!

I can chat with strangers all day, give a speech to a crowd, sing in front of people, make a fool of myself to inspire a child’s laugh, or whatever, but then I need to rest. I also need to maintain a safe, social distance.

Remember Glenda’s pink bubble in the Wizard of Oz? Add in the diameter of her huge tulle skirt, then add roughly 3 more feet to that and you’ll have an idea of how much personal space I actually desire. My love language is NOT physical touch, okay? So don’t touch me. Thanks. 

You can imagine how I fared during my 4 months in sardine-packed Hong Kong. . .check out my previous post for a bit more insight into THAT experience. 

You would think that our society would have this seemingly obvious rule of “don’t touch people” courtesy down by now, but alas. Even with COVID-19 continuing to grow, people are still completely oblivious and careless. I mean, I just learned today that people are actually protesting the social distancing rules, in big groups, like they truly have no grasp on reality. It’s horrifyingly stupid. But, let’s move back to happier things. 

Creating a healthy environmental atmosphere. It’s improving, apparently!

As I write this, I sit in my personally created atmosphere by a glowing fireplace, beneath a cozy blanket, next to my furry companion, with my legs propped up on about 6 pillows. It SEEMS that as a result of my quarantine-induced flurry of creative fitness goals, I have been struck down with either shin splints, or a meniscus injury. Super fun. 

Am I worried? Not really. Am I uncomfortable and severely sleep deprived after a night of tossing and turning/coordinating my leg pillow position? Yes. Am I STILL managing to find the happy side? Absolutely! 

My knees have always been somewhat traitorous to my active nature. Heck, it was pursuing knee-friendly exercise that got me hooked on cycling, then teaching/monetizing cycling, and finally buying my beautiful, teal bike. My beloved bike, which has yet to be named, but which supported me through 16 miles on my FIRST OUTDOOR RIDE as an adult. We have to celebrate our successes, right? Well, conquering 16 miles for a first ride felt good, and I am proud of myself! I hope that you are proud of yourselves for the small and big things, too! Self esteem does not come easily to all of us (hint hint, my Darling Doormats) and I encourage us to all remember to give ourselves those hard-earned pats on the back! 

Give Yourself the Credit You Deserve!

In regards to cycling in the present times, the COVID-quarantine has unfortunately not decreased traffic on my local roads as much as I would like. Parks that closed and/or crammed with spatially challenged strangers, led me to leave my beloved bike on its garage hook, and go running. I know, running. Running with just my feet and worn-down sneakers. Running with its ominous knee-hating reputation, with the pounding of pressure on the joints, has become my new method of exercise, and most recently my knees’ method of demise. I knew this would happen. My knees suffer every time I take to running again, BUT I’m stubborn, and tired of giant pickup trucks whizzing by me within inches of my life. We know who those drivers are. Can’t even keep a 3-foot gap, let alone a 6-foot one…

The point of my stream of consciousness is, I may be somewhat physically incapacitated today, but my brain is feeling GOOD! For the vast majority of these (quarantined) days, I have been chipper, positive, peaceful, and productive, and let me tell you that has not always been the case!

Creative fitness can be fun, for your body and your brain! 

I have recently noticed others who admittedly are more stationary day to day, compared to those who build regular movement into each day. Now, this movement could be walking, running, cycling, yoga, or even just moving around the house for chores. The fact is, I have noticed that the active peeps are by far in a healthier headspace! 

There is a vast library of research studies and articles which highlight the ASTOUNDING benefits of physical exercise for the brain, as is discussed in Wendy Suzuki’s TED Talk.

Smart Science and Mental Fitness

But hey, if you “don’t trust science” like the idiots, er, individuals protesting social distancing then trust me! I’m telling you from personal experience, when I am inactive, I have a tough time. My chronic fatigue flies off the charts, my mood becomes dismal, and everything is just, harder. Everything. 

Do you think I started a blog about mental health for no reason? This blog maintains a mental health focus because I like to learn about, master, beat the crap out of, and then teach about solutions for the negative things that impact so many of us! I am super duper far from perfect, and the same is true of my brain chemistry. (I blame toxic chemicals in our personal care products...that’s not a joke.) Sometimes, our helpful hormones and neurotransmitters need a little help with some creative fitness. A great way to send them that life raft (Rose, let Jack get on the dang door!) is with exercise. 

Many of you are probably reading this while sitting on the couch (like I am at the moment!) and thinking “Ugh. That is literally the LAST thing I want to do. Just another fitness junkie telling me how to live my life…well quarantine should be a time for rest!” 

Right? Are you sitting there naysaying my fitness recommendations and scoffing behind your screen?

It’s okay if you are, because I agree with you! Rest is very therapeutic and important! There is a time for exercise, and there is absolutely a time for rest. (Hello, Ecclesiastes 3). You’ve got to listen to your body, which does need to rest and reset. 

BUT on the flip side, there are excuses, and then there are actions.

Being comfortable is nice, but if you are comfortable, you are not likely to move, forward or otherwise. 

If you don’t like how an aspect of your life is going, change something! It is YOUR life, after all. 

We criticize in others what we dislike about ourselves. I bet that if you are honest with yourself and notice a trend of disdainful judgment towards others who live, look, or feel differently, then it may be time for some reflection and adjustment. Because let me tell you, happy people don’t have a problem with other people’s happiness!

No one likes a crabby critic. 

In this time, no, always, we need to focus on supporting each other with encouragement, positivity, empowerment, and love! I absolutely encourage you to get into creative fitness and get moving, even if it’s just for a walk to the mailbox, or to the fridge if you must have another quarantine snack (#relatable). 

Whether you carve out 30 minutes, or just 5, get yourself up and moving. Exercise for your body, for your brain, for your mental health. Heck exercise just to pass time during the quarantine! Rest when you need to, and reflect on my questions from earlier. 

How are you feeling? How is your headspace? What have you created? How much are you resting? How much are you moving? Exercising? Smiling? 

These are my COVID life questions for you. Do you dislike your answers? Then take charge, implement some creative fitness, and make your life something that you DO like. COVID-19 may be beyond our control, but these things, these important, changeable things, are up to us. 

If you want a beautiful, joyful, life, take charge and CREATE IT!