Sumrell Strength

Life can teach you some things if you pay attention. This seems especially true during periods of change. And NOTHING recently has caused more of a global shake-up than the Covid-19 pandemic. In that shake-up though, I learned a lot and gained some wisdom worth sharing. Naturally, these insights are mostly focused on fitness which shouldn’t come as a surprise. The bigger picture ideas however, can still be applied universally.

Here’s 5 things I learned from quarantine

1. You don’t NEED a gym to make gains

Not having access to a fitness facility was a real limitation for a lot of people during lockdown.

As a thought experiment, I decided to treat myself as though I had restricted access too. (I had full access but I wanted to see something). I acquired a pullup bar, some bands , and even made a makeshift sand bag. With this basic set up I did the bulk of my strength training. During this time I made solid improvements while also boosting my resilience, running ability, and athleticism. You can say I made out pretty well.

What I also realized was that the exact exercise and equipment didn’t matter as long as it was the right movement for the desired effect. That in turn made me dig deeper into my tool box and get more creative.

With a little imagination and resourcefulness, it’s very possible to do effective workouts. Even with a minimalist set up. Before gyms existed, this approach was likely the default. And Im willing to bet there were still plenty of strong people who just used what they had. What still reigns true today is that an over reliance on the gym can be a major impediment should a pandemic happen to strike.

2. Maintenance isn’t a bad thing

When you put a lot of work in to get to a certain level physically, it makes sense to view maintenance as an equally high effort endeavor. But it actually requires less effort than people think. And that’s good news for those concerned with losing gains and getting weaker. There’s value in being on cruise control from time to time. And in a pandemic, where stress may be up, it helps if your fitness doesn’t come with a crazy demand or an obnoxious time cost.

The world doesn’t end if extra weight isn’t being slapped on the bar every week. Maintaining what you have is still a useful approach that doesn’t rely as heavily on facilities you might not have access to. That was my experience. Admittedly, my understanding of strength and conditioning principles may have made this path easier to find. But the point to grasp is that it’s perfectly fine to take the focus off number chasing and channel it towards other aspects of fitness and well-being.

3. Motivation fluctuates and that’s ok

The irony about home workouts is that even with convenience accounted for, a push may still be required to get it done. I’d be lying if I said that I, the coach and trainer, looked forward to every single quarantine workout. What I found though is that routine and schedule are often better “motivators” than actually feeling in the mood. For many, keeping schedule and remaining on task is enough of a nudge to “clock in” and get the work done.

We can define motivation as the reasons and desires that push people to act in particular ways. The problem is that most times, the enthusiasm associated with said motivation is fleeting. It’s usually a goal, or goal oriented behavior, that harnesses that spark and gives it meaning.

However you choose to go about getting things done, deliberate action beats waiting for artificial energy to fall from the sky. Especially when that energy itself is known to evaporate quickly.

4. Having a hobby that involves physical activity is a game-changer.

Things that are enjoyable take less motivation to do. Plain and simple.

For me, having a collection of activity based hobbies kept me moving and sweating often. Outdoor fun included lots of bike rides, and even time working on my jumpshot. As the virtual world opened up, so did opportunities to try different things and rekindle old hobbies like salsa and boxing. What I got was an amalgamation of fun activities that all served to keep me fit.

Your recreational preferences might be different from mine. But if you have a part time hobby that involves movement, you’re a lot more likely to be physically active and forget you’re even exercising.

5. Mindset Is Everything.

All of us think, feel, and adapt. Yet nothing throws a monkey wrench into a situation like adversity and major uncertainty.

For me there were definitely moments of great introspection and corralling of spirt that had to take place in response to being shut down.  Winning the battle in the mind was crucial for turning a non-ideal situation into something good.

As a professional in an industry that was hit hard with gym shut downs, the need to pivot business wasn’t just unique to me. The triumph however, was in regrouping, improving, and finding alternative ways to help people. Being forced to think on your feet has a way of helping you find opportunities for success.

Within my own mind, the tenets I latched onto the most were the importance of purpose, strength in community, and the destructive nature of fear and worry. Those things alone could’ve been their own post but I believe they all came together nicely under the mindset umbrella.

With stressful circumstances it’s important to shine some light and attempt to find the good in the situation. That glass-half-full filter, combined with my experience, is how this piece came together. I speak from the perspective of a fitness professional, coach, and the many other identities that influence my outlook. But if you strip away some of the details and look closer, you’ll find that you may have learned some of these same things too.