An Encouraging Message To Everyone

Now nearly two months into the lockdown how many of us can admit to binge watching our favourite programmes on Netflix? If we have, it’s likely that we haven’t taken the governments advice of daily walks in order to look after our physical and mental health. 

 

Speaking on the 15 April, the Government chief medical adviser, Chris Whitty, stressed the importance of exercise to public health. He said being physically active was “very important to long-term health” and crucial for keeping people fighting fit during the ongoing pandemic.

 

The Government knows that exercise is essential to maintaining the health of the population and diverting demand from vital NHS resources.

 

So if you’re the obedient one and have complied to the governments advice you will have felt the benefit. You will no doubt have felt the community camaraderie when seeing others in the local park. It has given you a sense of structure and purpose over an uncertain future. 

 

Rediscovering exercise is the surprise of the COVID crisis and needs to be recognised amongst the terrible personal stories and emerging deep impact on our economy.

 

Bikes have been on the increase since news of the outbreak and even pensioners have been making amazing challenges to inspire everyone to exercise. 

 

And when the street lights go dim, the walkers are inside and the  bikes are in the sheds we all connect via social media and find new ways of interacting during an isolated climate. 

 

The latest pre COVID figures (up to Nov 2019) from the Sport England Active Lives survey show the highest levels of recorded activity; 63.3% of adults are active (doing at least 150 mins / week of activity). https://www.comresglobal.com/polls/sport-england-survey-into-adult-physical-activity-attitudes-and-behaviour-3/ 

 

This statistic reveals that, as a nation we’re binge watching less and jogging more. This is extremely encouraging knowing whilst still under lockdown many people are fighting mental health conditions but a small to large bout of exercise a day will lift the serotonin levels and help you feel a sense of calm and serenity. 

 

Clearly, new patterns of life will emerge; our collective challenge is that over the longer term, physical activity as a desire and an action becomes hardwired into the brain to protect our collective physical and mental health.

 

For further advice from the World Health Organisation please visit this website:- https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/connecting-the-world-to-combat-coronavirus/healthyathome/healthyathome---physical-activity 

 

Please note:-We must continue to follow the Governments advice on social distancing for the time being and respect the lock down measures which will clearly be with us for some time yet.

 

Everybody is doing so well and you are to be commended. Keep a daily exercise programme and keep connecting with your friends and family through social media. We will, eventually fight this. 

 

^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger