How to remain physically active during the pandemic

I don't think anyone imagined that 2020 would turn out to be the way it has been so far. None of us expected that a pandemic would grip us so hard that the entire world, even after 1 year since its discovery, is still trying to figure out how to deal with it and there is no definite timeline about when we can go back to our pre-pandemic lives. One of the many challenges we face is how to remain physically active when many regions place restrictions on public movements, gyms are closed, the outdoor options are heavily limited, we are shopping mostly online, and many of us are working from home. Regular physical activity is supposed to be an integral part of our lives and it is also important to remain healthy, more so in the age where we can spend endless hours in front of a screen without exhausting our options. We don't need an excuse not to move, we have many, rather, we need an incentive to get away from screens, and the pandemic made things more difficult for us.

Like many, I also faced the same challenge, more so when winter arrived as I don't enjoy the cold weather and refrain from going out in the bitter cold. So, the challenge is how to remain active with all these obstacles. One solution I found worked for me very well is to set hourly or bi-hourly targets rather than daily targets. There are a couple of advantages to this approach. First, the hourly targets are not that huge, a target of 15,000 steps per day looks like a tough target and requires planning the entire day carefully, and if we are at 7k steps by 7 PM we may give up and not try to score the remaining 8k steps as it looks too much to achieve in a short time. However, 1000 steps per hour is a comparatively small number, even if we score 500 in that hour it's not that difficult to make up the remaining 500 in the next hour. Also, planning an hour looks easy compared to planning the entire day. Second, as these targets are relatively small we can choose to perform them while watching some show or talking with someone on the phone. This allows us to multitask, we do not have to set up a separate time to exercise, and we can talk to someone while we walk or watch our favorite show or movie while doing some cardio. Finally, achieving our target every hour keeps us well on track to achieve that bigger number at the end of the day or even exceeding it rather than losing our motivation and giving up as we lag behind the task because we planned an exercise slot which we miss every now and then due to some excuse. 

I understand that this approach may not work for all, and some of us need to find our own method to remain physically active. The point is we all need to be mindful of the changes unique to us and adapt accordingly. Also, our home design, immediate surroundings, type of work, familial situations, and even the weather might present their own challenges and we need to maneuver around them. For example, I live on the ground floor, and to achieve my target of climbing 10 floors per day I need to climb to the first floor of our apartment complex. I am sure that in the beginning, upstairs neighbors must have been wondering why they heard footsteps every now and then without anyone showing up. We need to invent new ways to adapt, innovate new ways to remain active indoors, and make use of technology to achieve our tastes more efficiently. No doubt this pandemic has presented unique challenges for us, but we are more than capable of dealing with these challenges. We know the challenges, some are personal and some are social. We all need to invent and adapt. Be creative and be supportive of the people around you. Remember, our individual challenges are unique and so will be our solutions.

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Congratulations Class of 2020

Today, May 17, 2020, was supposed to be the graduation ceremony for the UConn Law School Class of 2020. This year, almost all schools canceled their in-person graduation ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was an unprecedented move under unprecedented circumstances. I don't think any other class in the recent past graduated under anything even close to what the entire world is going through today. Our class is special, not just for our achievement for completing our respective degrees successfully, but also for graduating under unprecedented situations. Also, our class is the first graduating class that was part of a worldwide experiment of online learning, we shifted to that platform after short notice, within a week or so, this is indeed a remarkable feat to achieve. Kudos to all the universities, teachers, and their support staff for doing this with minimum technical glitches.

None of us imagined graduating like this when we started our respective journeys but here we are, in the middle of a pandemic where uncertainties are staring at us from every quarter of our lives. Our class knows from first-hand experience that this world needs independent thinkers, leaders who are willing to tackle any challenge, and teams who are willing to navigate through situations for which there is no past precedence. We have seen it all in the last few weeks. None of this was a part of our curriculum, but we learned it anyway and this will be one of our strengths going forward. Please remember the lessons you learned while dealing with your struggles and frustrations during the last few weeks, they are unique to us, they not only distinguish us but also make us special.

It really sucks not to be able to celebrate this marvelous achievement with our friends, family, teachers, and loved ones. It sucks not to be with each other at this important juncture and recognize people who helped us and contributed immensely towards making this possible. It also sucks not to be able to party today as we usually do. However, the lack of formal celebrations does not diminish the importance of this occasion even a bit. This moment remains as special as it was supposed to be. This moment remains as festive as it was supposed to be. This movement remains as colorful and magical as it was supposed to be because it's not the style of celebration that makes it special, it's we and our loved ones who make it special. Therefore, do not forget to celebrate it with your loved ones. This is also unique to our class, not only the social environment in which we are graduating is special even our celebrations are also going to be unique and special.

Let's raise a toast for our class and fellow graduates. We all did it and crossed the finish line successfully. Each one of us embarked on this journey with a lot of hope and expectations, we all are going to continue our journey to chase our own dreams and celebrate many more milestones. So, enjoy this moment, take a break, cherish those lovely memories that made this journey an incredible experience, and yes, do not forget to thank each and every person who made this possible, doesn't matter how you do it, call them, facetime them, video chat with them, text them, just get in touch and say thank you. Congratulations Class of 2020.

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