A T THIS POINT ON the calendar, most of us have dropped our resolutions, no matter how well-intentioned we were at the start of the year. In fact, in a recent survey that asked 4,000 random individuals to be honest about how long they thought their fitness-related New Year’s resolutions would last, only 10% said that they expected to stick with them beyond March.
As if that statistic isn’t depressing enough, there’s another wrinkle in the works regarding our physical health. With the pandemic having wrought change and upheaval in every corner of our lives, our patterns of exercise and fitness have also been altered. One recent study by the UK-based Journal of Global Health showed that COVID-19 was linked to significant decreases in mobility, walking and physical activity, and increases in sedentary activity. So, why do we give up on health and exercise so easily? And how can we make sure that our goals last well into the future? Dr. Jeff Gladd is a practicing integrative medicine physician and the chief medical officer at Fullscript, a supplement-planning platform for patient-centered care and optimal health. He refocused his practice to concentrate on a “full-spectrum” approach to health and wellness after undergoing what he describes as a “personal health transformation.” “I was 50 pounds overweight and suffering from panic attacks,” he notes. “So, after losing the extra weight and eliminating the [prescription] drugs I was taking to reduce the panic, I dedicated myself to working with patients through nutrition and a wide range of other therapeutic tools to help them achieve optimal health.” Unrealistic goals Gladd believes that many health and exercise resolutions fail because they focus on an intense, short-term approach, rather than on a more practical, long-term, habitual plan. “In many cases, it’s just not a reasonable goal for people to maintain the level of diet, exercise and fitness that their resolutions demand of them,” he says. Gladd has studied the impact the pandemic has had on his patients’ patterns of diet, exercise and fitness, and he has health advice for everyone now and in the post-pandemic future. “Since 2020 and the beginning of the pandemic, I have patients who’ve recognized that the blurred lines
of home life and work life have been incredibly taxing and stressful,” he explains. “Because of that, we need to work on finding a balance or, in some cases, a new job to allow for a better barrier between the two.” Employees who’ve returned to the workplace after working at home for a length of time can begin—or continue—to manage their diet and physical well- being by following a few critical guidelines, Gladd says. Among the most important: • Eating a whole-foods diet . “At work, we often tend to eat on the rush, or make food choices that aren’t the best, most nutritional for us. Sticking to a well- planned, whole-foods diet will help ensure that you are getting a solid variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as phytonutrients, to maintain mental and physical wellness and prevent illnesses.” • Increasing your physical activity and movement. “Take a movement break after every one to two hours of sedentary work. Wearable devices (fitness watches, monitors, etc.) can be very helpful in tracking your activity and reminding you to take breaks.” • Managing your stress levels. “Integrate mindfulness practices into your daily routine, e.g., breath work, meditation and yoga.” • Optimizing your office space. “Work with your manager or employer to make sure your workspace is as ergonomic as space and budget allow. For example, consider a sit-stand desk or a desk converter, which is a more cost-effective approach.” • Prioritizing your sleep. “Your commute time to and from work has to be considered a factor in managing your safety, as well as your healthy performance at work. Ongoing sleep loss can negatively impact your blood sugar and blood pressure control, weight management, mental health and your immune system.” Work wellness Especially in the wake of the pandemic, many employers are recognizing that current and potential
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