Before we get into any workouts, we have to make sure you are comfortable with your clothes and shoes. I don’t know about you, but clothes and shoes have always been painful for me because of my circulation problems, unstable ankles, and severe inflammation. My feet and my legs tend to have poor circulation when I am exercising. To mitigate this as much as possible, I try to make sure to wear loose socks and loosen up my laces in my sneakers. I also try to wear breathable pants that are not tight around the back of my knees. If clothing has never been an issue for you, don’t worry about this article and have fun with your workout! But if it has, make sure you feel comfortable before your activity, so you are pain-free! 

The next thing we have to do is check how we are feeling. Keep in touch with not only your body but your state of mind. To keep from becoming overwhelmed, get a new journal or planner. During quarantine, I did not know what to do with my time. I knew there were so many things to do, but I didn’t know when I should do them. The next thing you know, you are lying on your bed telling yourself you will do it the next day. The best thing I have ever done is to set daily reminders for myself. Then at night, I sit down, with a cup of coffee, and write in my journal. If I have a troublesome day with my body or pain, I jot it down. Often it helps me to remember what I have to tell my doctor or even just to keep it for myself, so I am extra cautious. If this isn’t already something you do, start it now! It’s not too late. I love making lists for goals during the day, and then once those are met, create some for the next. 

Your state of mind is just as important and contributes just as equally to your physical health. Make sure you are doing things for you! Make sure to check-in with yourself every once and awhile. Even if you are focusing on yourself for just five minutes, make those five minutes count. The best time to do this is in the morning to get a head start on your day. Go for a little walk! Take some time for maybe a face mask or some self-care. Maybe even read a bit. The first thing we do when we wake up is to check our phone. That crowds your mind with unnecessary anxiety. We realize that the person you wanted to text you didn’t answer, or maybe you forgot to do something, and now you are worried. The last thing we want is to be anxious. That’s why the mornings are so valuable.