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Happy Friday, folks.
I was reading a story on our website on Wednesday, where Melissa Couto Zuber of the Canadian Press writes: Psychologists have worried about the mental health toll of rising COVID-19 cases and tightened restrictions for months — add in the shorter days and colder weather of the approaching season, and we could be in for what one expert called a “long, dark winter.”
The early snow on the ground and that story got me to thinking about the grind ahead. The one on top of the one we’ve been in, that is.
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Most people will tell you I’m generally a fairly upbeat guy these days and I don’t overly fret about things. These are unique times, however, so I want to be sure not to underestimate or minimize the toll they make take on me. A little preventive medicine might be in order.
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My usual fall and winter routine over the last few years would typically include watching the Bombers once a week; the Jets every other evening; two or three mornings a week at Richard Burr Fitness; one or two at the Grant Park Good Life; some holiday planning — Wiecek and I call it playing with our trip; a little live theatre; and maybe a movie once in awhile.
Won’t be doing much of those things for the forseeable future, so now what?
I had a physio appointment on Thursday — still mending a couple of mountain biking injuries — and I was sharing my thoughts on this subject with my therapist Wayne Lacko at D’Arcy Bain. He told me he really enjoys ice fishing and plans to get his darkroom going again.
“Maybe I need a hobby,” I replied.
Watching sports isn’t a hobby, is it? Acccording to a lot of lists, watching TV shows and movies is a popular hobby. I guess sports would fall into that category, then. I’m skeptical.
What do you folks have planned to get through the long, cold Winnipeg winter? I’m always open to suggestions.
One thing I will be sure to do is eat well, sleep well and get some exercise. I could definitely make eating a hobby!
I haven’t put on that “Quarantine 15” some folks are worried about these days. In fact, I’ve dropped a few pounds since the first lockdown. A summer of biking helped with that, but a new emphasis on metabolic workouts I can do at home has also kept the pounds down and the spirits lifted.
If you’re looking for some motivation in this area, I highly recommend Funk Roberts, who specializes in workouts for men over 40, 50 and 60; The Body Coach Joe Wicks, a British fitness coach who uses short intense HIIT workouts; Heather Robertson, who is known for her “no fluff, just tough” at-home workouts; and Ottawa’s Tracy Steen, who is all about moving daily in our fitness, nutrition and wellness. Her workouts are killer, folks.
I’ve got some chores this weekend and Games 3, 4, and 5 of the World Series are tonight, tomorrow and Sunday. I’ll take a little time to ponder the hobby thing as well — I’ve got another week before the lights go off for winter.
As always, you can reach me by replying to this mailing or sending me an email here.
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