The one thing that has kept me sane during this third lockdown is exercise. It has kept me physically fit, socially engaged, albeit through a screen and, increasingly, has helped me dump down the feelings of anxiety that often bubble up. Exercise burns off those stress hormones and releases endorphins that give that after exercise glow and feeling of contentment. However, lockdown has blurred my brain where a key component of exercise is concerned. Rest and recovery.

In normal times I always schedule in rest days. Two days during the week where I didn’t lift a barbell or dumbbell. Nor go near a burpee. This was easy in normal times as the rest of my life dictated it. Going out after work, seeing friends at the weekend, other commitments and activities. But in the absence of that part of my life it has become so easy to just exercise everyday. I miss it if I don’t.

But this is not good. Particularly as we get older.

Twice in lockdown I’ve had to remind myself of this.

The first time was in the initial lockdown. I was working full time from home and doing two virtual classes a day. I was loving it. No travelling to the gym, the sun was shining (a lot of the time). But eventually I hit a wall half way through a class. My body needed a rest.

But I didn’t learn the lesson. Since going into the second lockdown, tier four and now the third lockdown I’ve exercised nearly every day. On two of these days I’m lifting heavy weights. A few weeks ago I again hit the wall. I felt fatigued and ached all over. I knew instinctively that I had been ignoring my body’s need to rest and recover.

I took two days off and returned in fighting form. Two personal bests were just around the corner in my deadlift and bench press training. I now have scheduled in two rest days per week. But I find it difficult. In my constricted life I feel quite bereft when I can’t join a virtual class with my gym buddies.

A subject I’ve previously blogged about in The Importance of Rest and Recovery so I really should know better.

But what do I mean by rest and recovery? What it isn’t is sitting on the sofa all day watching box sets. It means keeping active, walking the dog, doing the housework, all the normal activities of life.

I strongly believe that activity and exercise are two sides of the same coin. We need both. Our lives need to be active and we also need to exercise. Activity will maintain our weight, exercise will improve our heart health and keep us strong and vibrant. Of course activity can become exercise. The walk which takes you up a hill. Gardening that requires heavy lifting. But we need to be doing both.

I have to admit to feeling frustrated with some organisations that are fearful of talking about exercise. The ‘any activity is better than none’ brigade. Yes, of course, this is true but it is not enough. We need to be challenging our bodies. It is what our bodies are made for. Unfortunately our bodies have not evolved to accommodate contemporary life. They need to be used as if we were still hunter/gathers.

Finally, there is relaxation. I’m sure I’m not alone in struggling with this. My life before pandemic was manic. But relaxation came easily. I’d watch crappy television at the end of a long day. I’d socialise at the weekend. Now relaxation is often accompanied with anxiety. A feeling that I haven’t earned it.

I’ve previously blogged about my anxiety before in Anxiety and Me . Since that blog I’ve less to be anxious about apart from the challenges of lockdown and the pandemic. But it remains as an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach which takes over my brain on waking.

It doesn’t stop me doing anything, I’ve never had a panic attack but it is always there in the background. One thing that I have been pursuing is meditation and mindfulness. I now practice it daily and it seems to be working. For example, I have recently been a victim of fraud but was able to disassociate my angry thoughts. Previously they would have overwhelmed me. In such a stressful period of our lives for me this has been a sanctuary from the madness.

So,

Keep active (walking, standing, housework, climbing stairs), exercise (moderate, intense, resistance), rest and recovery (nutrition, activity, sleep), relaxation (mindfulness and meditation). Job done.