Wellness: Morning Workout

I've never been the sporty type – at all, ever. Even as a kid, I was always the arty, bookworm type. The only sport I was interested in was swimming, not something you can really do everyday. But I was good at it! The Little Mermaid was my favourite Disney film when I was little, so maybe that explains my love of the water. Anyway, my point is, I'm not an athletic kind of person.

But, during lockdown (like many of us), I started doing a daily work out. This was in no small part thanks to my family who decided we should all do Joe Wicks' 9am work outs together over video call and across five households...and two countries! It was actually the best idea ever. Not only were we talking to one another way more than I think we have in our lives, we were encouraging one another. We were there to hold each other accountable and get a figurative kick up the bum on days we felt lazy. There's no doubt in my mind that we wouldn't have done the workouts every day for three months if we weren't doing them together. Now, people are slowly going back in to work so we rarely get the whole group on a call – but those of us who are free still do it. I did it this morning, and yesterday, and I'll do it tomorrow too.

Not only is it helping my fitness and strength – three months ago I could do about five push up and my sit-up score wasn't much more – but it has an amazing affect on my mentality. You always hear that fresh air and exercise can cure many ills, and I've never really thought about it past a physical thing. But the feeling post-workout is amazing – especially on days when I've felt completely zapped of energy to begin with. The serotonin is pumping and the sense of achievement is addictive. It's hard to get yourself into gear when you really don't feel like doing exercise or anything for that matter ( I've had plenty of those days) but I can guarantee that it's worth pushing yourself and putting that effect in. You need to show up for yourself.

The other advantage for me is that in a time when nothing was certain and normality was lost, it gave me a routine. It made me get out of bed in the mornings when I didn't have anything to get up for, as such. The work out helped me work out aggression – I'm loving shadow boxing – gave me an appetite and also helped me sleep at night.

I'm a complete convert. And the proof is that Joe Wicks has finished doing his live work outs now but we are still carrying on with our sessions!

Let me know what work outs you follow or love. I'm always open to trying something new!

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