I’ve battled with one form of mental health challenge or another ever since childhood. Self-harm, depression, stress, social anxiety, eating disorders – all are a part of my story, and over the years I’ve employed various tactics to deal with them.
But the thing that has made the biggest impact is so simple it’s almost unbelievable…
It’s movement.
Our bodies were made to move. We have joints and muscles that allow us to do wonderful things, and it turns out that when we use them wonderful things can happen not only physically but mentally too.
You don’t need me to tell you that entering lockdown in mid-March exacerbated existing mental health challenges and threw up new ones. Overnight our lifestyles, work habits and social activities were fundamentally changed, and like others I struggled to cope.
Feelings of isolation, anxiety and stress washed through me, clouding my usual optimistic outlook and presenting new worries and concerns at every turn. I went through shock, depression, anger, denial – most parts of the standard change curve in fact – at least three times over the first few months of lockdown and remote working!
I knew from the start that staying active was going to be a key part in helping me cope. I’d already been setting good habits over recent months and years, so I was determined to use and build on them to get me through the challenging times ahead.
From day one I went out for regular walks. Once a day at first, an hour each time, and then when we were allowed out more often I split up my walks to before and after my working day. I continue this walking timetable to this day, as it helps create a boundary between home and work. It’s like I commute by walking round the park, rather than standing like a very grumpy, and often cold and wet, sardine on a short-formed train – much better!
I also ordered myself a set of weights the week we moved to remote working – a few days later when lockdown began you couldn’t get hold of them for love nor money, so I timed it just right! I’ve been working with my coach Lauren Kenealy, a WBFF Pro, since January to build strength, lose fat, and change my mindset and lifestyle, so I really was in the best possible place to deal with lockdown restrictions. Lauren adapted the workouts I would normally do in the gym to home-based sessions – both weight training and cardio, and I kept up my nutrition regime – I batch-cook once a week then each day all I need to do is grab a few tubs out of the freezer – simples!
And finally, thanks to the marvels of modern technology, I was able to carry on my main love of pole fitness and dancing. Lauren is also the owner and lead instructor at LaKiTa Dance, a pole studio not far from where I live in Warrington. I’ve been a member there for three-and-a-half years, and it’s my second home – at the beginning of lockdown we all seriously considered moving into the studio so we could continue training together! Pole classes went online from week one of lockdown, so I was able to maintain my strength and knowledge and keep on practicing my favourite moves. I even learnt a lot of new ones. This also meant I could still see and interact with my friends from the studio, and with a class every evening and many other pole instructors offering weekend workshops I was never far from some virtual human interaction alongside my activity.
Pole and weightlifting are such empowering things to do, and I’m not exaggerating when I say they have changed my life. If ever there was a way to highlight the amazing things a human body can do then hanging upside down by your ankles or pushing twice your own bodyweight with your legs are great examples! In three-and-a-half years of training at LaKiTa and nine months of working with Lauren as my coach, my relationship with my body, my attitude towards nutrition, and my entire mindset and outlook have completely transformed.
All this movement continues to do wonders for my mental and physical health – ‘movement is medicine’ after all. I feel stronger in every way; I have more energy; my outlook is more positive than ever before. Every session I’m amazed at what I can do, or at least attempt! I’ve smashed so many of my goal moves on the pole already this year, and upped my weights across the board, and there’s still plenty more to come.
I’m back in the studio and the gym now, which is much better than having to do everything in my dining room, but I know that if they close again I will be able to cope. I’ve also started swimming since the pool re-opened – yet another opportunity to move my body and benefit from being active. Every day I get a minimum of 10,000 steps – and usually more like 12-15,000 – and I’m determined to keep that up throughout winter now that the daily habit is ingrained, I just need to invest in some decent waterproofs!
Not everyone can dedicate as much of their time to being active as I do – I live alone and have no children or other caring responsibilities (except for Petra the African pygmy hedgehog who is content with a few mealworms and a cuddle each evening) so all of my time outside of working hours is my own to do what I want with. But I do believe that everyone can make some time in the day to do something active, no matter how short, and that they will notice a positive impact. A walk around the block, star jumps in the living room, maybe a swim or a bike ride at the weekend. I promise it’ll do you the world of good, and once you start you won’t want to stop!
Stay active, and stay well.