Jul 1, 20202 min read

Does Being Active Really Benefit The Mind?

Updated: Jul 18, 2020

The impact of sport, or lack of it, post COVID-19

The past two weeks in my life have been an honest physical and emotional struggle. To point out the obvious, being human sure comes with its occasional episodes of exhaustion.

These days, the time between 8 AM and 6 PM consists of online classes, a midday tea break, matric assignments, homework, studies, and online co-curriculars. After this it's family-time, dinner, chores, showering, extra school work, and hobbies that fill in the gap before 10PM. It sounds busy when put in this way, but in reality this is more or less a regular day in lockdown for a lot of us - except school might look more like varsity or business for some.

After two weeks of feeling flustered and icky, I've pinned the cause of these emotions down to how I was neglecting my fitness. Walking the dogs each morning may allow fresh air-flow into the lungs, and at least it's keeping active, but compared with a sturdier exercise schedule prior to lockdown which got the heart pumping and the perspiration flowing, it's not enough to regulate mental alertness, emotional well-being, and health. By not maintaining balance these past two weeks between work and exercise, I have not only put my physical health on the shelf, but I have also been straining my mind.

So! With that mistake of mine being expressed, I want it to be a reminder of how vital it is that we check ourselves each day.

Have I spent time outside, away from the desk today?

Have I broken a sweat today?

Have I stretched?

How can I improve my health today?

Have I checked on my family's wellbeing? - perhaps invite the family along for a morning run!

Am I keeping hydrated? - I promise you, whether you're glad / mad / sad, water is your trusty companion

This lockdown may either manifest a warrior princess out of you, or a damsel in distress.

I've learnt for myself now to not allow our global crisis to drain me, but rather to prepare to come out ready for battle; ready to face the world once lockdown lifts.

Feeling down? "Take a hike!"

Going on a Father's Day hike at Cradle Moon last Sunday was already enough to feel a tingle in my soul again. It's incredible what the combination of sunny vitamin D, a refreshing breeze, a view filled with trees, burning sensations in your calf muscles, some sweat, and an increased heart rate can do for us earthlings. I am ever so thankful for the colour green in nature, and the strength that my body offers me in exercise when I grab the opportunity to move it.