Written by Joey Current, Charleston Young Professionals Steering Committee Member
As I sit at my dining room table (now turned home office) waiting for yet another Zoom meeting to start, I ready my mouse to turn off my camera the minute I log in so nobody can see me. Still in my PJs, browsing tasty To-Go deals being offered by my favorite local grub spots, and wondering what day of the week it is, I prepare to listen to a presentation titled Redefining my Goals and Staying Motivated. I think it’s safe to say I’m the prime audience!
Hosted by CMCC, owner of GRIT BOX Fitness (also Saltwater Cycle, and Chucktown Brew Tours) Cody Cooper offers a fantastic motivational webinar that is perfect timing for this young professional in the midst of a statewide lockdown due to a global pandemic. Let me break it down for you.
We’re all facing challenges.
As Cooper puts it: There are several obvious personal challenges we face as we collectively shelter in place. Social distancing, worry about the unknown, and for an estimated 181,000 south Carolinians job loss is a sad reality. We might not notice underlying health challenges that creep in like chronic stress, loss of sleep, poor diet, and an overall sedentary lifestyle. Luckily, we CAN control our health. And right now, that might just be the most important thing we can do.
Setting Goals
Setting health goals and finding motivation in the midst of all this stress can really help. Cooper refers to health goals like a GPS. First figure out where you want to end up. Then work backwards setting smaller goals until you know what your goal is for each day/week/month along the way. And just like a GPS, if you get off track, you can adjust your goals to get back on the path to success. We all need to give ourselves the benefit of a little grace in times like these, don’t we?
Cooper challenges us to think about our fitness goals on a deeper level. After all, our health is very personal and there may be family, medical, or self-confidence reasons for wanting to stay healthy. Ask yourself why your health is important to YOU, not why society says it’s important to you.
Let’s talk Fitness
Just like small business owners everywhere, Cooper has had to adjust his offerings to a population in quarantine. Here are a few tips offered that I’m going to follow as I adjust my fitness routine:
- Keep a Schedule – Don’t push that snooze button just because your first meeting doesn’t start until 10:00am
- Set the Mood – Turn off distractions and set up a dedicated space for working out. Crank the tunes and get moving.
- Create Healthy Habits – Drink more water! Eat a healthy breakfast! Now’s the time to start healthy habits that will carry on for years to come.
- Track your Workouts – Write down what you’re doing and share your goals with a friend for accountability.
- Join a Challenge – Most of us aren’t fitness coaches. Join a challenge online to boost accountability and learn some great moves!
Final Thoughts
It seems appropriate in the midst of National Public Health Week to listen to some great advice on staying healthy and motivated. It’s so easy to slip into unhealthy habits in this time of uncertainty and social distancing, but the other side of that coin is that we are at a perfect time to set goals and jump back on the fitness wagon (preferably Mon, Wed, Fri with a buddy). There really is no reason to wait! Above all else, let’s stay positive and remember that there is support and resources all around us in Charleston to tap into. I think I’m going to join a virtual workout Friday to kick off my weekend! Seriously though, is today Wednesday? Thursday? They all run together at this point.
For more information about GRIT BOX and their online offerings click here!
