Whenever we ask someone at the gym “How are you?” lately, there’s almost always a pause, a sigh, and something along the lines of “Hanging in there.” Other than maybe a few dark months in the heart of the pandemic, we’ve never seen this level of collective emotional struggle in the gym before. A lot of folks are feeling beat down. We get it!
Today we’re just sharing some encouragement to keep showing up even when it’s hard. You’ll be glad you did in the long run! Here’s a couple reasons why we have to keep our health and fitness top of mind these days.
- Regular exercise is one of the best remedies we have for depression and anxiety. Decades of research have shown this to be true! We’re not saying doing burpees will cure all mental health issues, but exercise makes a big difference for most people in times of high stress, anxiety, and depression. Exercise releases endorphins that improve our mood. It can also be a great distraction from negative thoughts — any time we can break out of negative spirals and give our brain and body a break, it’s helpful. In times when there’s more bad news coming in than we can possibly hope to process, working out can be a way to keep ourselves afloat amidst the chaos.
- Working out consistently is preventative health care! It stands to reason that healthcare in the US is only going to get more expensive. We don’t want to be all doom & gloom here, but given the current political trajectory of the US, gaining any sort of universal healthcare seems further away than ever. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the scales tipped even further in favor of insurance companies from a (lack of) regulation standpoint, resulting in more expensive health care across the board. Investing time and money to keep ourselves healthy and strong now is going to pay off even more down the road, not just from a quality of life standpoint, but also financially.
- You need time in community with like-minded people. When it feels like the world at large is doubling down on cruelty, it’s vital to have places to go where you know you’re safe and cared for. For many folks, RECF is one of those places. You can be here, and be yourself, and know that you are valued and important to us. We especially want to extend an open invitation to the folks in the trans community who might be feeling unsafe or unwelcome elsewhere. There’s a place for you here. Kindness, empathy, and compassion are always going to be valued at RECF.
Keep showing up to the gym. The forces in charge right now are banking on us giving up to the overwhelm. We have to keep doing what we can to stay healthy and regulated and present, even when it’s wildly unpleasant. Staying active and strong is more important than ever! Please let us know how we can help <3
