The pandemic and the new normal have inspired new ways of living and reflection about the relationship between people and nature. Steered by Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consortium, the joint university sustainability campaign UNIfy returns this March with a series of themed online experiences and events organised by various local universities. These events explore topics such as ‘Mind, Body, Soul’, Environmental Psychology, Agriculture, and Waste Reduction. They aim to explore the possibilities of living sustainably in the new normal situation.
The crisis triggered by the pandemic has shown us that things can and must be done differently. Many of us are yearning to get back to normality: to dine out, to mingle with our friends, and to play sports outdoor. We have to admit that measures taken to reduce the spread of pandemic are causing changes in our daily schedules and disrupting our workout routines. So what can we do? Instead of skipping our workout, it’s better to figure out ways to continue exercise effectively since it is essential to our physical health and mental well-being.
Brought to the University community and the general public by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), a special online sharing was staged to spotlight the need to stay active during the new normal. Themed ‘Exercise Snacking - Your Future Exercise Trend’, Mr Adrian Liu from PolyU’s Student Affairs Office (SAO) Counselling and Wellness Section, made a fruitful sharing on the necessity and ways to have adequate physical activity.
With statistical data and information from the World Health Organization, Adrian alarmed us that more than a quarter of the world’s adult population are insufficiently active. Sitting too much has become our lifestyle - over 90% of our activities, work or leisure, were done sitting down, which was definitely not good for our health.
Adrian invited the participants to look into exercise snacking – not the act of eating snacks to tide us over, but short, sharp portions of exercise spread throughout the day to keep us healthy. He suggested that we should follow our own daily pattern and identify opportunities to take split exercise for the sake of our physical health and mental wellness. He persuaded the participants to act and join the PolyU instructors and students in exercises focusing on strength and cardio.
There are many ways to stay active even if we do not go outdoor or to a gym. We can start a new home exercise pattern and get moving whenever we can. And, yes, we need a sustainable lifestyle and optimise our health and well-being at all times.
