Week two: total rest

OK, so I don’t usually go on massive walks on the weekend but generally speaking, week one is an accurate reflection of how I move. I’m lazy – I like doing 5k jogs because I don’t have to think about what I’m doing. It takes a lot of planning to get to a 7am gym class, especially if it’s a cycle away. By week two, I’m excited to not have to get up before 7am.

I’m working all week in town so the only exercise I’ve been permitted is cycling to and fro; I live in an area which has no Tube so it tends to be quicker to cycle. Instead of waking up early to move, I read the paper in bed, have a shower and then a sit-down breakfast while reading emails. After I’ve digested, I get on my bike and head into town. For the first couple of days, that feels really good. I go for Wednesday drinks with a friend, and the next evening, meet up with a mate I’ve not seen since we graduated seven years ago.

But by the last morning, things change. I miss my runs. I feel antsy and full of nervous energy. I’m thankful for every minute spent on the bike but I realise that a lot of my thought processing and alone time is spent exercising. Is that a good thing, or a sign that I need to stop relying on movement so much? Our generation is often accused of chronic navel gazing and without being able to expend energy physically, I get sucked into way more thought spirals than usual.

If you think taking a fitness break will improve your mental health, you might be mistaken