It is so very easy to fall into a habit - be it good or bad. I read somewhere that it can take 6 weeks to form a habit and 6 months to change minds are tricky little buggers. Like everyone, I have habits, some of which naturally fell by the way side due to the Pandemic along with an inability to attend anything.
The gym was a huge habit pre lockdown for me. I would go at least five times a week and in my head I had to burn at least 300 calories each session- otherwise, the time working out had been a waste. Strangely, I do feel different about that perception now. I have a new realization; the gym is not only a place to exercise and to keep 'feeling' healthy but there is a social element too. Saying 'Hello' to gym members that I hadn't seen in over a year felt good.
I engaged in a professional discussion yesterday with a colleague and we spoke about the impact of the Pandemic on herself and her team. I had asked the question; " what poses you the biggest challenge at the moment ?". She replied with " team morale". After lots of discussion we finally came to an agreed judgement; that most of us are lacking the diverse social connections we would normally take for granted on a day to day basis. This lack of interaction and engagement has played havoc with our mindsets and wellbeing and if we think about this on a deeper level, this shouldn't come as a surprise or even shock that we feel so 'unlike' our own selves.
From a very early age we are exposed to situations and environments which foster our social development; our parents encourage this and as we grow the expectation is for us all is to 'Join in' or be part of the 'team'. Some of us are hugely outgoing and thrive on the connectedness whilst others stay quietly in the back ground. Regardless of our disposition to being with others, our brains' neurons' connect rapidly with each new connection and in time, we develop our own personality and preferences.
So my message to you all is ...it's OK not not be OK. The Pandemic has impacted us all in some way and that matters, it matters even more that we recognize this and, as we head into the Sunlight and a re opening of the 'new normal', lets all remember to still ask each other if we are well and be the listening ear to those who need it.
