Response

Question #1. What are some great ways to be active?
I understand that what I might find great to be active, others may disagree with me. Personally, having control over HIIT workouts has helped me stay active. Using the application Downdog, I can set the amount of time and the level of intensity for each activity. Other ways to keep active involve going for a walk, choosing to take the stairs, morning stretches, standing instead of sitting.

Question #2. How do you maintain an active lifestyle when you have so many other demands on your time?
Finding the right active lifestyle has been difficult for me, especially working full time, going to school full time, and navigating a pandemic. Since these life changes, I have had to (1) give myself grace when I don’t complete a physical activity on a specific day and (2) get creative with what I consider physical activity. Something that has worked for me is writing down on my planner when I plan for physical activities. I will usually do this right after the end of the school day and before graduate school Zoom. On the weekends, I am up by 7:30 am and tend to begin the day with light movement or take a break after doing some homework.

Question #3. How do you find a balance between all of the things you are supposed to do to stay healthy?
This is an everyday struggle, but I remind myself that (1) I am navigating a lot at the moment, so doing everything is impossible, and (2) I am growing and redefining what I consider healthy all the time. I am learning to manage myself and not my time; listening to what I am feeling and what my body is communicating helps me better understand exactly what I need to stay healthy for that specific day or week.