Fresher Take

Developing a Healthy Routine

January 26, 2021 UoL Student Life Season 2 Episode 5
Fresher Take
Developing a Healthy Routine
Show Notes Transcript

Ben and Becki are joined by special guest, Sophie, to discuss how to develop a healthy routine during the pandemic.

For more advice, please visit Student Services or the Student Union Advice Centre.

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Ben: Hello and welcome to another episode of Fresher Take. My name is Ben.

 

Becki: My name is Becki.

 

Ben: And in today’s episode we are going to be talking about developing a healthy routine. Now to do that, we are joined by a very special guest.

 

Sophie: Hi, I’m Sophie and I’m studying a postgraduate degree in media and cultural studies. And I’m here because I’ve had a good experience with developing a healthy routine whilst running a buys work schedule.

 

Ben: So, what we’re going to be talking about today is about the COVID pandemic, and how our day-to-day lives have been disrupted. And it’s important to note that, because the COVID pandemic has, you know, disrupted everything that we do in our day-to-day lives, it doesn’t mean that we should neglect ourselves. It’s super important to maintain a daily routine.Just because you can get up in the middle of the afternoon and catch up on lectures, doesn’t mean that you always should. So, we’re going to start of by talking about how we develop a routine. So Sophie, we’ll start with you. What sort of tips and tricks and things have you done to keep a routine when everything is so strange in the world at the minute?

 

Sophie: I’m on the lucky side because I do still have a job that I can go to which gives me something to structure my day around. But on the days that I’m not working, it’s just making sure that I kind of keep a consistent time to get up, same kind of time to eat meals. Just keeping a loose kind of skeleton of a day that then I can slot things into as and when I need Ben: So do you, like, make a list of things that you need to do throughout the day, or do you just have sort of like a mental “Right, today I’m going to do this, this, this”?

 

Sophie: I am such a to-do-list maker. I’ve just got lists after lists after lists. Like, whether I get it done or not, I’m of the mindset that; as long as one thing is ticked off, I’ve achieved something for the day. So like, even if that’s eating, I’ve done it for that day. ‘Cause some days you just that bit of a break, but then other days the whole list will be ticked.

 

Ben: It’s not like, it’s not like, you keep a strong like “I must do everything on the list”- as long as, you know, I quite like the mindset like you said of “even if I do one thing today, that’s better than not doing anything.” I think that’s a really good mindset to have.

 

Sophie: Yeah, I think otherwise you just put in- especially at the minute, the world’s tough enough as it is. Like, you don’t need to be putting that extra pressure on your day-to-day life. Like, just aim for one thing and you’ll achieve something. 

 

Becki: I think we can sometimes be like our harshest critics. Like us ourselves are our harshest critics. And I think a lot of people put a lot of pressure on themselves to be just constantly going. Especially even during this whole COVID thing, um, people were putting a lot of pressure on themselves. But like, I think you’re right; just doing- even if you just do one thing, it’s helpful. It’s better than, you know, just sitting around and doing nothing- although! I am a big advocate for sometimes you do just need to sit around and do nothing. 

 

Jess: Of course, yeah.

 

Ben: I was going to say, Becki, the amount of times you said on this podcast of how much you love a Netflix day of just doing nothing to reset yourself. 

 

Becki: Yeah. 

 

Ben: I think if you said anything other than, you’re not an advocate for it would’ve been 

 

Becki: No, no, no, no, no, no. I will always advocate for a little bit of procrastination. Yeah.

 

Ben: It’s only normal, isn’t it? To at least procrastinate at least a little bit.

 

Becki: Hmm.

 

Ben: I think we’re all quite luck in that we all have part-time jobs alongside our course, am I correct?

 

Becki & Sophie: Yes.

 

Ben: Yeah. So I guess that, as you alluded to earlier, Sophie, is like one of the best ways that forces you to have like a normal day. Because, say for example it’s a 9-to-5, you know, you’re getting up at a reasonable time, you’ve still got time at the end of the day to do work, and you’re still sort of maintaining, like you said, a structure for eating meals at the right time and getting work done. Do you think that has helped both of you maintain that healthy structure of a routine? Or do you think that it’s gone the opposite way of, you only have a healthy structure when you’re at work, because that’s the only time that you actually have to have a routine?

 

Sophie: I think it depends on the day for me, because like Becki said; sometimes you just need that kind of break to have the headspace. And I kind of listen- it sounds weird, but I listen to my body and if my body is like “I need a break. We’re having a day off. We’re having an afternoon off.”, then I’ll give it to myself. But, as much as I can, I try and stick to that routine because then, I find it personally really easy to get out of a routine. And I know that the next time I’m in work, I’m just gonna struggle to get back into that mentality. So as much as I can keep that up outside of work as well, is the best for me.

 

Becki: Yeah, I agree. For me it’s a bit different because I don’t have like a standard 9-to-5 workday, or whatever. I’m up at like 3AM, or I’m at work at like 3AM, and I will be back in the early morning still. So, a lot of the time that just gives me an excuse to just stay up and crack on with everything, and stuff like that. But then other times I’m like “no I really need a nap. I’m gonna take a quick powernap and then get on with my day.” But, so, it’s a bit different when I’m working and structuing it around my work, and everything like that. But I also do what Sophie says, and I just listen to what my mind and my body is telling me. ‘Cause if I’m knackered, then I’m gonna be like “look, I’m just gonna chill for today. I’m not gonna force myself to do anything.” Because, I also think that when you force yourself to do things like that, you’re not gonna produce the best quality work that you could. You’re not gonna, you know, come up with your best ideas if what’s really sat on your mind is “Oh my god, I’m so tired.” Or “oh my god, I could really use a break.”

 

Ben: Yeah. I think you beat yourself up a lot aswell, like you said; you are your harshest critic. And it’s like if you don’t do what you are expecting of yourself to do, you sort of think that it’s a waste of a day. Whereas I think what Sophie said about, you know, “as long as I do one thing, it’s not a massive- you know, it’s no stress, you know. As long as I’ve got one thing done, it’s fine.” I think is a really good mentality to have. Because, I’m the worst person ever about, sort of hammering myself being like “oh I didn’t do this work today, you know, so it’s like a waste of a day.”

 

Sophie: I think the worst thing as well is, comparing yourself to other people that you see on social media. Like, personally in the first lockdown I was seeing everyone like going out, building good relationships with exercise and getting into new things. And I was like, “I should be doing that too, why am I not doing that?” But I had other things that I needed to prioritise for myself. So comparing yourself can be your own worst enemy.

 

Ben: Do you know what? The amount of times that we have had this conversation

 

Becki: Yeah

 

Ben: Either on a podcast or just before or after is stupid. Like, the amount of times you talk about how you compare yourself to other people. And I think that is the single worst thing about, sort of, being in a generation where social media is such a big part of peoples lives. 

 

Becki: Yeah

 

Ben: But I think you specifically Sophie are in quite a good, from what I can tell, in quite a good place mentally. Either that or you’re a really good actor. Because everything that you’ve said so far has come from the standpoint of “as long as it works for me, it doesn’t matter.” You know, “it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks or anyone else is doing” you know? I know what I need to do.

 

Sophie: Yeah, I’ve always been quite a headstrong person, so it’s always “do what’s best for me and think about the rest later.” 

 

Becki: Yeah

 

Ben: See I really respect that personally, because I think in the first lockdown I was the complete opposite. I was a sucker for “how come they’re doing this? How come they’re doing that? Why am I’m not doing this?” instead of actually realising, “No. Do you know what?” Instead of looking at the bigger picture, maybe looking at the smaller picture of going “No, do you know what? You’re not doing that because: A. You don’t want to, and B. it’s just not who you are.” Like you said with the whole fitness thing; I hammered, then again we’ve talked about this so many times before on the podcast, but I hammered fitness in the first lockdown. And then in the second lockdown I didn’t, or haven’t been. And then put so much pressure on myself that I haven’t, that I wasn’t doing it. Whereas now, I was just like “Realistically, I don’t wanna do it. I’m not gonna do it.” You know? And I think that in itself is a healthy part of a routine of not forcing yourself to do it, but ensuring that you do it. If that makes sense?

 

Sophie: I feel like forcing yourself, you’re doing going to put yourself in this mental headspace where you’re just constantly berating yourself and degrading yourself and everything is going to suffer because of this one thing that you’re kind of arguing with yourself whether you should do or not. But you know deep down, it’s best not for you, but just because other people are doing it, you think you should do it.

 

Ben: Guilty.

 

Sophie: Yeah, and it’s just getting out of that kind of state of “they’re doing it so I should do it too”, but knowing that that’s not what you need and like your priority is you, and what is best for you.

 

Ben: Yeah

 

Sophie: Like, don’t go and force yourself to go for a 10K run because someone on Instagram did it today. 

 

Becki: Oh yeah, oh no. It was the whole 5K challenge thing-

 

Sophie: Oh yeah

 

Ben: I was literally gonna say that, yeah.

 

Becki: and people kept tagging me and I was like “you know that my that asthmatic self is not running 5K for any of you, so…” that just wasn’t going to happen.

 

Ben: Yeah, it’s one of those where it’s like “I nominate Becki, yeah…” No. You’re alright, thanks

 

Becki: No, no, I’m good thank you

 

Ben: I’d rather not, yeah. Do you know what? I think that was one of the best and worst things to come out of lockdown, ‘cause like yeah; it got people fit, it got people running, got people active, raised a load of money for charity, fair enough. But I think it did the opposite as well of what we were saying of, you were going “why aren’t I running?” ‘cause you don’t wanna run? Like…

 

Becki: Yeah, yeah

 

Ben: You don’t wanna do it, so don’t do it.

 

Becki: See, I think for me, I think I’ve said this before, but for me the social media thing, it made me try random new things. But, because I know myself, I knew that I didn’t have to stick to them. So like, I went through a big yoga phase, and I still do some yoga now but not as much as I was doing during that lockdown. But I really got back into fitness, and I actually found that it really helped me, and I wouldn’t have done it if literally everyone around me wasn’t doing it. Or if everyone on social media wasn’t doing it. But I learned to refine it to myself and my own body, my own mind, and my own habits and everything like that. So some good came out of it for me, but then other things I was just like “honestly, everyone is just doing this now because everyone else is, and it’s insane.”

 

Ben: Yeah. I think that’s just the joy of social media, isn’t it really? It obviously worked for you, Becki, ‘cause obviously like you said you wouldn’t have tried it unless no one had tried it before. So it’s like, yeah you’ve been encouraged to do new things and may have even developed a comparatively healthier routine as a result. But I think as well, once you’ve made that routine, ensuring that you keep it up is quite hard sometimes. Especially like when you said when it’s like “yeah I did it, it was great. It helped me through the first lockdown.” But then obviously you came out of lockdown, you develop more as a person, and then when you go back into lockdown again, it’s sort of like “Do I really want to be doing yoga again? No, not really.”

 

Becki: Yeah, exactly

 

Ben: But I think that in itself is how you develop a healthy routine you know? You find what works, you find what doesn’t work, and you constantly develop it. It’s not a- no one can sit here now, unless you probably can Sophie ‘cause you seem really organised. When I say no one, I mean me and Becki, can’t say to you “this is how you make a healthy routine. This is a healthy routine.” Because it changes for everyone. So do any of you guys have any other recommendations of things that you have implemented into a routine to sort of create it comparatively healthier to what it was before, for example.

 

Becki: Do you know what I’ve actually started doing recently? Actually cooking. So me and my mate, one of my housemates, we alternate days cooking. He’ll cook one day, I’ll cook another day, then so on and so forth. For me, it’s a good part of a routine; I know what I’m gonna eat. We make meal plans and stuff so I know what I’m having, so that takes out that anxiety for me about “oh my god, what am I going to cook when I get home?” So I just know what I’m going to have, and know that I’m going to have a good set meal. Sometimes I am the queen of forgetting to eat, so ever since I’ve been back home I’ve just been working a lot… and I’ll turn and it’ll be 5PM and I’ll be like “oh wait, I did not eat today. I have not eaten today.” Which is so bad. I know at uni though, I’m actually very good at planning lunches and stuff, so that’s a very new thing though. But it’s been going rather well.

 

Sophie: I totally agree with meals plans. It is never something I used to do. Like you said, I forget to eat as well because I’m just working and I’m like “why do I feel weird? Oh I’m hungry!” So just having a set meal plan and being like “I’ve got this in for lunch, got this in for dinner. I’ve got this to take in for breakfast.” It’s just making sure that I try and stick to it where possible. Even if the times change slightly, I know what I’m having, it’s ready, it’s there to go. Cooking dinner is taking a little bit of time for yourself as well. That’s even an accomplishment in itself that you’ve prepared and made a meal. That’s a big thing.

 

Ben: See I don’t meal prep. And the thing is, again, we always go back to it of “we’ve had so many people on the podcast talk about this.” But, the amount of people that were like “oh yeah, I meal prep. I’m just so prepared that I go to the gym at 6AM every morning and meal prep…” See, I’m just not that kind of person. I know that I need to eat, so I eat. As weird as that sounds, I think it offers sort of a balance to what you guys were saying of, you guys sometimes forget to eat, whereas I always make sure that I have time to eat. Instead of having a dedicated healthy routine of you know, “I get up at this time, I do this, do that…” As long as I’m hitting key things that I need to do in a day. So for example, get up at a reasonable time. Get a bit of work done. Make sure I eat three meals a day. Go to bed at a reasonable time. Have time for myself. And maybe even go for like a run or do some sort of exercise. As long as I’ve ticked off most of them, I think that for me is what makes a healthy routine. Just, as long as I’ve got a set of few things that I need to do, just to add a bit of balance to you guys forgetting to eat. Eating is the only thing that I know.

 

Sophie: Exactly. It comes back to that everyone’s going to be individual and different. And it’s literally what works for you. It’s just trial and error as well. Try one thing. If it doesn’t work, don’t call it quits and be like “oh well, it didn’t work. I’m just gonna give up on trying to develop a routine for myself.” Try different things, try different times, try different… not activities, but different things that you do, you know? Make the key points and just trial and error it until you find something that works for you.

 

Becki: Yeah, definitely. I think sharing, like what I was saying, obviously me and my housemate cook together, and stuff like that. Or we alternate cooking and things like that. That’s really good advice for people living in student houses. I know it might be different for you two- I know it’s different for you Ben because you’re not. But, I think that’s good because having to worry about cooking every single day is quite a lot. Whereas if you’re sharing that with other housemates, you know, like if you have a speciality dish. For example, mine is mac ‘n’ cheese or lasagne. And those are proper group meals, you cook a big batch of the anyway, generally. So I find it really easy to cook for everyone and make big meals for everyone. We just take it in turn. You know that saying? “A problem shared is a problem halved”? That’s the kind of way I approach meal prepping.

 

Ben: A lasagne shared is a lasagne halved.

 

Sophie: See I have the opposite to that where, I live alone. So if I don’t do something, it’s totally on me. 

 

Ben: Your fault.

 

Sophie: Yeah, so the way that I kind of got around it was that, some days I get in at like half 6 at night. And I just don’t want to stand and cook. But then I always try and make extra for a meal so I can pop it in the freezer and it’s just there if I need it. So I’ve got like backup meals.

 

Ben: As a when you can’t be bothered?

 

Becki: Yeah

Sophie: Oh yeah

 

Ben: You’ve got something that’s hearty and good for you, and you’ve not used a delivery service app to buy, lets say, some certain fried chicken. Do you know what? I love delivery apps. But I think that Segway’s us onto the next bit which is obviously ensuring that, as a part of a healthy routine, that you’re eating right. And, you know, it’s so easy to, as I’ve just alluded to, fall into a trap of ordering food to your house. Or just eating things for the sake of convenience as opposed to health. And it’s really sort of stereotypical to say it and sort of really generic, but I think having three meals a day can form sort of the backbone of a healthy routine. And as we’ve already alluded to as well, they’re an opportunity to have a bit of fun if you’re cooking with people or if you just enjoy cooking. You know, it’s a great way to destress.

 

Sophie: I feel like eating right for me, like I said, having the meals in the freezer if I can’t be bothered. It also just helps you get that energy for the next day. And it’s kind of like comfort food. You can make your own comfort food if you’ve had a bit of a rough day. Like Becki, you said mac ‘n’ cheese. Mac ‘n’ cheese is such a comfort food. You just make yourself feel better from what you cook sometimes.

 

Becki: Yes, I think so as well. ‘Cause when I say eating right, I don’t mean nibbling on some salad and some lettuce, you know? I mean having a nice, healthy, balanced diet but also eating the things that you enjoy. I think that’s such a part of a healthy routine, is having things you like. Obviously not eating everything in excess, but I think people get this notion that you mean literally, you know, having salads and going no carb and all of this stuff. That’s not it at all. It is literally eating in proportion. Eating the stuff you’re supposed to be eating, and the stuff that you’re not supposed to be eating, because life is about balance. 

 

Ben: People forget as well though that that, as part of a healthy diet, you know, your adult’s recommended intake of things. There is actually quite a lot of fat and sugar in your recommended daily intake. So don’t think just because, you know, the world healthy automatically means eating nothing but chicken, rice, and salad. That’s not true. Because in order to maintain a healthy diet, and therefore a healthy routine, you know, you need that daily intake of fat, whether that be saturated or not. You need that daily intake of sugar, because it’s just how your body performs. You look at people on Instagram again and sort of be like “well they’re built like fridges, and they look in incredible shape.” But I can guarantee you that they still eat sugar, and fat, and pizza, and burgers and stuff.

 

Sophie: Of course they do. And it’s said that even a square of chocolate a day is good for you, so.

 

Ben: A bar of chocolate is just a big square isn’t it, really?

 

Becki: Yeah

 

Sophie: A square is two bars stacked onto of each other to make a square.

 

Ben: Exactly. And that’s how we feel good about ourselves. No it’s not. No, I think that’s a good point though; you are allowed, you know. You’re not like in school where it’s not like “you’re not allowed to do this.” You are an adult. You know what your body needs. And it goes back to what you were saying Sophie, about listening to your body and listening to what your body needs. If you’re sat there going “You know what? I just want a takeaway tonight. Because I’ve eaten well all week and I really fancy one.” Do it. Don’t feel like you’re then going back on what you initially set out to do in this healthy routine. It’s okay to have fish and chips on a Friday. It’s okay to have a takeaway on a Saturday night. It’s okay. Just don’t do it all the time.

 

Sophie: Cheat days are there for a reason for athletes. And people need their comfort days.

 

Ben: What’s your go to comfort food, Sophie?

 

Sophie: Cookie dough ice cream.

 

Ben: See I’d say that’s like a snack. What would you say for like a meal?

 

Sophie: That’s a good one. It’s got to be a pizza. Always go back to a pizza. 

 

Ben: You know what, standard. What do you get on your pizza?     

 

Sophie: Honestly, just vegetables.

 

Ben: What? 

 

Sophie: It’s boring, I know.

 

Ben: You’ve got to go for your chicken, your beef, your spicy chicken, your pepperoni, chorizo.

 

Becki: Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, all of those

 

Sophie: This is where I go “I’m vegan” so… 

 

Becki: That makes sense then. You should have led with that one

 

Ben: You should have led with that one

 

Becki: I really enjoy olives on my pizza

 

Sophie: That’s a bold choice

 

Becki: Yeah, people hate me for it. But black olives taste so good on a pizza.

 

Ben: I think that’s a bit, I don’t know. Yeah it’s a bold choice- it’s a loud choice, Becki, I think

 

Becki: Well I like it. And I get jalapenos as well

 

Ben: What do you go for then? What’s your go to?

 

Becki: Some chicken, or tandoori chicken. Pepperoni. Beef. Anything spicy, I like- that’s why I put jalapenos on it.

 

Ben: Bit of a kick to it. Would you got for a pizza as well then? Or would you go for…

 

Becki: No, my comfort food is- it’s actually probably mac ‘n’ cheese, I can’t lie. You know when you put it in the oven, you bake it, and it’s all cheese at the side-

 

Ben: Gooey

 

Becki: And crispy on the top and stuff. Or, if I’m talking takeout. Mine would be a Chinese.

 

Ben: Yeah, Chinese. Absolute top tier.

 

Sophie: But the real question is do you add any extras to your mac ‘n’ cheese?

 

Becki: Well sometimes… I’m not really supposed to really eat pork- not for religious reasons, but for my digestive system. But, sometimes I have bacon, or bread crumbs. Or sometimes bacon and bread crumbs. 

 

Ben: Ontop of a mac ‘n’ cheese? Bit of a strange one

 

Becki: No! In it- have you never had a bacon mac ‘n’ cheese?

 

Ben: No

 

Becki: What?!

 

Sophie: Get on it

 

Ben: The game has been changed, ladies and gentlemen

 

Becki: No, it’s really good! Crispy bacon, and you put it in the mac ‘n’ cheese. And then you put the breadcrumbs on top with the extra cheese. Toast up some Panko breadcrumbs. I feel like I’m a bit of a Nigella right now. 

 

Ben: I was gonna say “alright Nigella Lawson.” I’ll have to give that a go. But, that conversation actually, without even meaning to, has perfectly sent us into another point that is; if you don’t feel comfortable cooking, or you can’t cook and therefore rely on takeaways and stuff. This is a perfect time for you to learn to cook. You know, how many YouTube channels, and how many websites, and how many facilities do we have around the University of Lincoln that can help you cook? It’s actually a joke, really.

 

Becki: There are so many student-aimed cookbooks or websites or whatever as well. And they really do break it down very nicely. So yeah, anyone can cook, I think.

 

Ben: Yeah, it’s just a case of actually going out and doing it. And I think, ‘cause when I first came to uni I was a classic lad and just didn’t cook. I was like “yeah, it’s fine. Frozen this, frozen that. Chuck it in the oven, it’ll be alright. Would you two say you can cook quite well then? 

 

Sophie: I think I taught myself out of necessity.

 

Becki: I grew up around like my mum, my nan, my aunt- everyone, literally everyone in my family can cook. So I would get absolutely slaughtered if I couldn’t.

 

Ben: But I think that you have quite interesting roots as well, don’t you Becki?

 

Becki: Yeah.

 

Ben: In terms of your ability to cook. And in terms of the flavours and types of food you cook.

 

Becki: Yeah, ‘cause whenever I want something from home, like a Caribbean dish or something like that, I know how to make it. Or at the very least, I’ll call my mum if I don’t, and she’ll walk me through it step-by-step. 

 

Ben: That’s sick though. And I think having the ability to cook- like, as someone who, say two or three years ago couldn’t cook. I think, having that in your repertoire of skills is actually really, really good. Not only for yourself, but for other people. The easiest conversation you can have with someone is talking about food and talking about cooking. 

 

Sophie: That’s true; food kind of unites everybody.

 

Ben: Get cooking if you don’t know how to; BBC Food, the University of Lincoln Sports Centre, have been putting out recipes for healthy meals that you can cook easily at home. And there are plenty of recourses online that specialise in cheap and easy student meals, so make sure you check them out as well to increase your repertoire and ability to cook. So the final little topic about creating a healthy routine, is in the name. Health. We’re gonna talk about exercise, how god exercise can be, and how it can help you maintain and create an even healthier lifestyle to what you currently are. And I’m going to kick this one off, because I made a point in a previous podcast that I thought was really good. Just, you know, pat myself on the back there. And I just want to talk about it quickly, and how easy it is to implement exercise into your daily routine. So, we can’t go out anymore, really. We can’t go to an office, if you work in an office environment. And you know, our ability to venture out of the confines of, say, a house, or an apartment block for example, is more and more prevalent. So I was listening to a personal trainer that I follow on Instagram, and she was talking about commuting to work. And I was like “what do you mean?” But basically, she came up with this idea of; say you start work at 9 o’clock every morning, right? Get up a little bit earlier, and say, half an hour before you start work. Quote-unquote, commute to work.  So have like a, 20 minute, 25 minute, maybe even half-an-hour walk, as if you were walking to work. And then after you finish work at say, 4 or 5, do the same. Because if you commute to work, you have to commute back from work. And that is a fantastic way of ensuring you do a minimum of 40 minutes exercise a day. And it can be implemented into a routine to ensure that, again, as we’ve been talking about, you’re ticking off those things to do, you know? You’re done your morning exercise which is walking to work. You’ve done your evening exercise, which is walking back from work. And you know, even if they’re 15 20 minutes each, that’s still 40 minutes which is just about what the World Health Organisation recommends for the optimum amount of time to exercise in a day. 

 

Becki: Amazing.

 

Ben: Thanks Becki. 

 

Becki: You’re very proud of yourself for that point, I know you are. 

 

Ben: I dunno what, I feel like on the podcast, I’ve sort of branded myself as the “guy that” not does fitness, but “the guy that advocates it quite heavily”, you know?

 

Sophie: Yeah

 

Becki: Yeah, yeah, definitely you have. 

 

Ben: So I like a good fun fitness stat, and a fun fitness activity, and that is- it’s not like I’m saying, you know, you need to do go out and do high intensity runs, and swims, and bike rides and stuff.

 

Becki: Yeah. 

 

Ben: Something as simple as, walking round the block, for like 20 minutes. Or if you’re in Lincoln, walking down the high street and back, if you live near there. Just something that, 15, 20 minutes a day, you’re hitting your quota for exercise and you’re getting yourself fit. And not only that, but it adds to your healthy daily routine of you’re making sure that you’re getting exercise done. 

 

Becki: Yeah. ‘Cause I was gonna say, I think a lot of people think exercise and think “oh my god, I’ve got to go on a run.” Or “oh my gosh, I’ve got to do a high intensity workout.” Or “let me jump on YouTube and find some sort of free fitness programme that I can follow.” And yes that is grand, and yes you can do that. But that’s not necessarily all exercise is. So that is a really good- especially if you have a really busy day, if you have like a 9-to-5 or even longer. It can be really hard to get up and get out, and you know, do your exercise. So I think that is a really good way to implement it into your routine. 

 

Sophie: Especially at the minute when it’s so dark outside. If you’re doing a 9-to-5, it’s gonna be dark and you won’t want to get outside. So just doing a little bit wherever you live is, even if that’s just like some running on the spot. Anything like that is gonna help you as well. 

 

Becki: Yeah. I think as well, as an added point of that, I know a lot of girls I know definitely aren’t going out alone at night. They’re not going to go on a run if it’s dark. And it literally gets dark at 3PM now. So, it’s, yeah, it’s definitely a good way to get going.

 

Ben: Yeah, cause it’s not, like you said, it’s a fantastic point of it gets dark early. You’re not gonna wanna be going out after dark, and you know, potentially risking your safety for exercise. Even for a slightly longer walk in the morning, let’s say, as long as you are doing something- it sounds really obvious, but it is better than doing nothing. Doing something. And you know, even if you work, like for example I work in retail. I know Becki and Sophie also do. You’re actively walking, and moving, and lifting boxes, and you know, working all day. So that as well is in itself sort of getting in your recommended 12,000 steps a day in and stuff like that. So it doesn’t have to be lifting weights and really going out of your comfort zone. It could be as simple as just going to work, going for a walk, going for a bike ride if you really enjoy that sort of thing. And just finding ways to implement it into your day-to-day life that will, not only allow you to stay fit, but also have a daily routine because you’re getting up at a certain time, you’re doing this, you’re doing that. You can almost signpost your day based on what you do. Which I think is really good and I advocate it. I know not everyone is a massive fitness freak, and will enjoy lifting weights and doing 5k’s for charity and stuff- I get that. But I think it’s really useful, and I think there are no downsides to exercise. I’ve said that before, but. So what’s your guys relationship with exercise then?

 

Becki: I think that, recently, I’ve got much more, like back into exercise a lot more. Like I said; the first lockdown I was all over it. And then that kind of tapered off the more I had to go to work, and the more I had to do, and when uni picked up again. But then me and my friends got into exercising together, and so I’m fond of a nice little cycle, so I enjoy doing that. They run and that stuff. So I think for me, having someone to do it with was really helpful, because I had them to sort of hold me accountable as well. But then we’d both have days when we were like “no, I can’t really be assed today.” And that was perfectly fine too. I’m literally going through my- you know on an iPhone you have a built-in pedometer? Apparently I enjoy walking now more than I ever have.

 

Ben: Turns out, as a result of lockdown you’re walking more than ever before.

 

Becki: I’m doing like, 15 to 25,000 steps a day for some reason.

 

Ben: Aye, that’s good though. 

 

Becki: Yeah, so that’s currently where I am on my fitness journey. 

 

Ben: What about you then, Sophie?

 

Sophie: So my jobs are pretty active in themselves. So I feel like, I’m getting my step counter up there everyday, I’m hitting the 10,000 steps. But, for actively going and performing something as other exercise, I’m quite bad at at the minute. Before, I enjoyed going running. But like Becki said, it’s dark outside now. I am female. I do not feel comfortable doing that right now. I’ve got some weights; I occasionally do those at home. But I’m quite lucky that my everyday is very active in itself, so I’m kind of meeting those needs. Constantly on my feet. Constantly doing something. Walking to and from where I work. So I meet it in that way, rather than actively seeking to be like “oh I’m going to do 30 minutes of exercise at this time” because that just doesn’t work with my schedule as it currently stands. But on Saturdays and Sundays where I’ve got a bit more time, I paid for some workout plans to ty and motivate myself in the first lockdown which didn’t go to plan. But I try to do them on a Saturday or Sunday just so I’m still getting some activity in when I’m not working the same routine as I’m doing within the weekdays. 

 

Ben: You know, I think that’s really good though that you’re quite lucky in the respect that your timetable and routine already, sort of, inadvertently makes space for exercise. Like you said; you’re always on your feet. You’re always doing things. You’re commuting to and from work, quite literally as opposed to the example that I made. And that the only time that you really seek to do “actual proper dedicated exercise” would be when you’re not working. Which I think, itself, is something that you should be quite proud of I guess, in the way that you’re-

 

Sophie: I feel like it’s quite easy to forget that sometimes your day-to-day life can provide you with the exercise that you need. Because I know at the start, I was thinking “I am so tired on a Saturday, but I’ve not been exercising throughout the week.” And when I actually took a minute to sit and think about it I was like, “actually I am. I’m walking to work. I’m constantly on my feet for 4 straight hours. Then again later in the day.” So I work at a breakfast and afterschool club, so I’m running around after children and constantly doing something. And once I realised that, I was a bit easier on myself and was like “actually, no; I am doing what I need to be doing.”

 

Ben: And as everyone always says, two things you shouldn’t work with are animals and children, so… you know, you must be getting a lot of mental exercise in as well.

 

Sophie: Oh yes.

 

Ben: “No, don’t throw that. No, don’t- stop it.”

 

Sophie: “Don’t run, you’ll trip over.”

 

Ben: “Stop it, health and safety!” So, you’re in quite a good position there. I think you both brought up two very good points there that I’m just gonna discuss quickly. Becki, you talked about doing exercise with friends. Again, a fantastic and pretty much perfect way of making exercise fun. Because I know a lot of people can think of nothing worse than stepping foot in a gym, or lifting weights, or going for a run on their own. So instantly doing that with someone allows you to, not only be social and have a good time, but actually forget that you’re doing exercise, which is really, really good. And Sophie, again, what you said about almost implementing it into your day-to-day life without really meaning to, I think is another good way of doing exercise. And it makes you feel a little less bad about yourself thinking “I haven’t done any exercise.” When, when you sit down and actually think about it, you’re actually doing your step count everyday. You’re actually getting a bit hot and sweaty doing, you know, running after kids or walking home, or doing an exercise routine on the weekend when you’re not actually exercise because you’re not at work. I think they’re two really good ways of implementing it into your daily routine and ensuring that it’s healthy. And it goes without saying that, exercise has been proven to bolster positive mental wellbeing which I think, in the current climate of whatever is going on in the world, is the most important thing. Like you said, Sophie; you’re mentally in quite a good headspace anyway, which you’re very lucky to be in that. But for people that maybe are struggling a little bit, you know, maybe going for a run and getting a bit of a sweat on and releasing those endorphins will allow you to have a better outlook on life. ‘Cause I know a lot of people that have sort of struggled and found exercise as a coping mechanism.

 

Sophie: Definitely. I think for me I need to be active, I need to be constantly doing something. And when I’m not, that’s when I start to notice a decline in my mental health. So I do what works for me, which is, for me is working constantly. That’s just how I’m in a good headspace; I’m always doing something, I’m always busy, and I like to be busy. And if that ever stopped, I would need to work something out, I know, to get myself in that good headspace.

 

Ben: To find a substitute for it to make sure that you are still feeling the best you can feel. 

 

Sophie: Definitely. 

 

Ben: So I think that perfectly wraps up, you know, everything about maintaining a healthy lifestyle or creating a healthy lifestyle and routine as a student, or as someone living during a national- well global pandemic, which you know, is not something only to be really proud of. But shows the solidarity and the strength that you have as a person to be able to do that. So, that’s really really good. Well done you. It’s also important to reiterate that as well that if you are really struggling, the University of Lincoln’s Wellbeing Centre or more professional support are avenues that you can take to ensure that you are staying the strongest and the best that you can. You know, of course it goes without saying, it is really okay to not be okay and there are outlets that you can use to, to help you with that. Because things at the minute aren’t easy, and it is okay to admit that you are struggling. And there are as I’ve said, professional support outlets that you can use. As always, make sure that you stay locked in to Student Life and all of our content because we produce, without fail, the best student-based content around. Just search UOL Student Life on all social media channels and places like YouTube as well, and make sure you check out our website which is: University of Lincoln Student Life. Thank you so much to Sophie for being on the podcast. Have you enjoyed yourself?

 

Sophie: I have very much enjoyed myself, thank you.

 

Ben: You’re very very welcome. And as always, I’ve been Ben.

 

Becki: I’ve been Becki.

 

Ben: And until next time, we’ll see you later.

 

Becki: Bye.