Well-being during Covid-19
- Norbert Konja
- Apr 28, 2020
- 3 min read
Everywhere we look and go, we see Covid-19. Even our most basic activities, such as fitness and social life, is affected by this global disaster. How do you cope and what is your aim to get better with your fitness goals while pandemic is alarming? What do you do to self develop and exit from the "me, me, me and just me" mindset?!
When will we people realize that without working on our inner self, backing each other up and helping each other, this world will suffer. We are the only species who has the power and mind to make things better.
I have been in few stages of my life when I was put in a situation tough as Covid or even tougher. Coming from Serbia and being part of two wars in 1991 and 1999, Covid-19 is just another challenge and a test that I am going through and learning how to broaden my capability to self develop and get stronger mentally. Having said that, it does affect my way of living and has an impact on my mental health and wellbeing.
Coping with quarantine and avoiding people contact is the hardest, for me, because people are my passion and I love working with different individuals on a daily basis, hence I have chosen fitness as a career path. After working as an ICU nurse in my hometown called Novi Sad, fitness was a good door to step in and work with people on their wellbeing.
Living in an era when pandemic is present, in our every day life, makes human kind fight harder for the opportunities and definitively reminds us what we left in our upbringing- to live simple, appreciate people around us and value the simplicity this life provides. Living basic and using your own power of mind to create, is priceless. During the lockdown I realized how important is that "state of mind" which we activate every morning as opening the eyes.
My motto through life, which drives me daily, is - "Ignore things which you cannot act on, focus on priorities, put your best smile on and go conquer another day!"
Having said this, I do feel sometimes in a certain way and this is when my motivation, fitness, steps in. The mind can get us to certain places, but hormones are here to top that feeling with some extra endorphin and dopamine.
My fitness regime always depends of my mindset and how I felt that day. You have to listen to your body in order to get through the stress and satisfy your mind. The two just work together and the more you force against your feelings you will suppress them and not progress. For example if you feel low you will go for a run - This will activate your Pituitary Gland and adrenals to produce Endorphins, but this wont be enough. You will still have a mild "low" once this endorphin is used. The mystery of creating a total recovery from the "low" lays in activating your Dopamine hormone produced by the hypothalamus. Combining the two will give you a longer lasting feeling and as well finding an answer for your "low" moment. Thoughts will clear up like clouds. Never underestimate your feelings and try to neglect the problem. It is not going to work. The mind and the body need to work together and be synchronized just as the hemispheres in your brain.
You are curious to know how to combine the two, Dopamine and Endorphins?
I am going to give you an example; Endorphin- 45minute high intensity workout + Dopamine- do something very satisfying that day, that brings your childhood back = sane brain and ready to have a think for the solution which you are looking for.
If someone tells you that 20 min workout daily will keep you sane, they are lying to you. To activate endorphins you need abut 35 minute active workout and elevate hearth rate (aerobic hearth rate about 80% of your maximal hearth rate).
MHR: 220 - your age = 100% HR
You can access a mini workout on my social @norbertkonja.fhc
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