Ever since lockdown was initiated, I have spent countless days stuck at home binge watching netflix, eating, and working like a slouch potato. This has led to a lot of unmotivated days causing my mental health to deteriorate.

As a result of this lack of motivation, I decided to start going to the gym every time I felt even a little bit down. Now, people who know me well might be surprised at the fact that I actually got up, got in the elevator, went to the gym, and actually utilized the equipment. I know, Shreya and gym in the same sentence are just totally crazy but it was actually really energizing.

I used this CAS wellness day to work out since I was feeling down and working out helps me increase dopamine, destress and improve my mental health.

The workout routine of the day:

Cardio – treadmill
(3 mins w 30 sec breaks)

Cardio – stationary bike
(low intensity : 5 mins w 30 sec breaks + medium intensity : 3-5 mins w 30 sec breaks)

Cardio & Core muscles – jogging on my open terrace

Reflection:

Working out when I’m angry or sad is a perfect example of the commonly used phrase – “two birds one stone”. By going to the gym, I was able to let out bottled-up frustration and stress while improving my muscle strength, getting healthier, and boosting my endurance.

You might be wondering how I suddenly got the m

otivation to go to the gym. Well, I honestly think motivation is temporary. Motivation is so bipolar. This is why I just prefer not motivating myself but letting it come naturally and that’s how I started going to the gym. I didn’t force it upon myself but just went whenever I needed to destress.

Overall, I think going to the gym has been greatly helping improve my physical appearance, health, and mental wellbeing especially in the midst of the stress of tests, assignments, and the enormous workload. Still gotta love IB though!

Learning outcomes observed: 

1. Strength & growth
LO1 Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth. Students are able to see themselves as individuals with various abilities and skills, of which some are more developed than others.

2. Challenge and skills
LO2 Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
A new challenge may be an unfamiliar experience or an extension of an existing one. The newly acquired or developed skills may be shown through experiences that the student has not previously
undertaken or through increased expertise in an established area.

3. Initiative & planning
LO3 Students articulate the stages from conceiving an idea to executing a plan for a CAS experience or series of CAS experiences. This may be accomplished in collaboration with other participants. Students may show their knowledge and awareness by building on a previous experience, or by launching a new idea or process.

4. Showing perseverance and commitment
LO4 Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences. Students demonstrate regular involvement and active engagement in CAS.

7. Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
LO7 Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions Students show awareness of the consequences of choices and actions in planning and carrying out CAS experiences.