We know that maintaining a regular exercise program is critical to both our mental and physical health. However, many of us have difficulty living up to our goals, even under the best circumstances. This was made even more difficult during the pandemic, when gyms were closed or restricted causing us to “scramble” to find alternatives. Even now, with gyms and other recreational activities resuming, many of us are still having difficulty getting back into our physical activity routine.

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One reason for our difficulty sustaining our exercise program may be related to a paradox that was uncovered in a recent study. A large-scale study at McMaster University of more than 1,600 participants found that one reason people wanted to engage in physical activity was to improve their mental health (Marashi et al., 2021). However, the researchers found that many participants were too anxious or depressed to exercise. In other words, the pandemic has created a paradox where mental health serves as a motivator for and a barrier to physical activity.

Compared to six months before the pandemic, participants in this study reported:

Aerobic activity was down by 20-minutes per week
Strength training down by about 30 minutes per week
Sedentary time was up about 30 minutes a day.

Furthermore, those who reported the most significant decrease in physical activity also experienced the worst mental health outcomes than those who maintained their physical activity.

The researchers offered some practical advice for those experiencing a little difficulty getting back into their physical activity. Take a look at the graphic provided by NEURO FITLAB at McMaster’s University to see what might be helpful to you.

References

Marashi, M.Y., Nicholson, E., Ogrodnik, M., Fenesi, B., Heisz, J.J. (2021) A mental health paradox: Mental health was both a motivator and barrier to physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLOS ONE 16(4): e0239244. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239244

NEURO FITLAB. http://neurofitlab.ca/covid-19---mental-health.html