The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world as first responders. We respond differently to calls, our PPE has changed drastically and our stress levels have increased. Now, more than ever, we need to focus on our own health and fitness so we can better service our communities.
Staying fit, especially during a pandemic is not an easy task. But there are some actions you can take to ensure you stay fit and healthy during these unsettling times.
Watch this video to learn four steps firefighters and EMTs can use to prioritize health and fitness and make lasting, positive change during the coronavirus epidemic.
Here’s a quick review:
Step 1: Create your new “healthy” normal
COVID-19 has disrupted our daily schedules and the way we normally operate, not just on calls but in our homes as well. In the past, you worked out at your gym and ate meals according to your work and school schedule. Now, that schedule is disrupted and changed. Now, you may not have access to a gym. Now, you have to home school your kids. Now, the kitchen and fridge are very accessible.
This disruption can and possibly has led to unhealthy habits and missed workouts. Create a new healthy schedule and normal for yourself. If you normally worked out at 3 p.m. in the gym, find a program you can do at home instead. If you normally packed and prepared meals the night before, go back to doing that. If you find yourself in the fridge all the time, create a structured eating schedule and stay out of the kitchen when you are bored.
Step 2: Set a new fitness goal
Weddings, reunions, fun runs and adventure events have been delayed and postponed and with that so has your fitness goal. If you were training for a special event that is no longer viable, find a new goal to motivate you. If you have not been consistent with workouts, set a goal to work out 12 times in the next month. If your uniform is fitting a little tighter, set a goal to get into that smaller size. COVID-19 can cancel events and meetings, but it does not have to squash your motivation. Create a goal that motivates you and go for it!
Step 3: Stay Positive
Optimism is contagious; unfortunately, so is pessimism. So, make a conscious choice to stay positive – do not focus on what you can’t do, focus on what you can still do. This positive thought process will spill into every aspect of your life, especially fitness. There is no such thing as a bad workout. There will be times that you do not want to work out, but think about how much better you feel, think and act after a workout – even a “bad” one.
Step 4: Position yourself for success
It’s common for us to sabotage our fitness progress with temptations. Since we are at home and probably under more stress than usual, we tend to have tempting foods and projects that can sidetrack our focus. If you are getting sidetracked with sweets, do not have them around the house. If your workouts are getting sidetracked by house projects, make sure to do workouts early in the day before you get started. If you normally had a gym buddy to keep you on track, find a way to hold each other accountable virtually. Now is the perfect time to cook more healthy foods, do yoga, exercise with the family and create healthy habits.
It’s critical for firefighters to keep up with their fitness and nutrition during this crisis. Stay positive, stay healthy, stay fit and we will get through this!
Questions or feedback? Contact me at zamzowfitness@gmail.com. #GETFRF
This article originally appeared on the Lexipol blog.
