Stop me when this stops sounding familiar:
Because of COVID-19, you have now found yourself working from home. At first, it sounds great! No commute, no boss standing over your shoulder, you can dress pretty much however you want, you’re in a comfortable, familiar space.
And, no one is microwaving their fish leftovers in the break room.
But, the normal stresses of working in an office for 8 hours per day quickly get replaced by a whole new set of stresses. Now, your kids are home and running around, you have to stop what you’re doing every few hours to let the dog out, packages and groceries are being delivered, etc. All of this, on top of the normal stress of having to get your work done.
But, perhaps the worst aspect of all is that now, at the end of your shift, you can’t leave!
The ability to physically disconnect from your work; to stand up from your desk, push your chair in, and actually leave the office, has always been a crucial part of dealing with the stress of working. Now, it is gone. And for some, permanently.
I’m not sure that many people saw this coming. And, I think that a lot of people working from home right now might be experiencing that constant connection to work.
Some, I’m sure, have found ways to get away from it, which is great. But others might not even be aware that some of the new stress they might mysteriously be experiencing is being caused by the inability to physically leave the workplace.
Having any exercise routine at all is good for mitigating that stress, but I believe that Tae Kwon-Do can be especially helpful in this way.
Most exercise plans don’t have goals or levels of achievement built into them. Sure, you want to lose weight, or increase flexibility, but there is often no inherent guidance toward those achievements.
In our black belt program, we can accurately tell a student where they are now, where they will be in 6 months, where they will be in three years, and so on. We set long term goals and, more importantly, map out the steps required to achieve those goals. And, there is actual recognition and reward once you do.
Being able to take a class, be led through that class by being told exactly what to do, to feel yourself getting stronger, to know you’re getting closer and closer to your next goal, being rewarded when you achieve that goal, and the overall feeling of taking a “mini-vacation” for the hour or so that you’re doing it is crucial. Especially now.
Not only is it good for you, it is good for your work as well. Taking that time away from your work to train helps you reset and be more focused when it’s time to return to it.
Also, for myself and most of my students, Tae Kwon-Do has always been an amazing anchor when things get crazy.
When I was a full-time musician and I was struggling constantly to find work, Tae Kwon-Do made me happy and kept me centered. Even when I was working, Tae Kwon-Do helped me deal with the stressors and overexertion from touring.
Personal relationships not going so well? Tae Kwon-Do is a relationship I have always counted on.
Tae Kwon-Do at home is a great remedy for all of this, and now, it’s easier than ever through our virtual training.
We’re still holding students as accountable as we were when the dojang was open. If you’re signed up, we expect you in class. We want to see you in class. And, if you miss a class, we will call to find out why and what we need to do to keep you on your training track.
Our adult students have been saying all along that it has been nice to know that we’re all still looking out for each other and encouraging each other to step away from work once the work day is over.
In my case, though, I feel pretty lucky. My work/life balance is not typically very hard to strike. Because if I wasn’t working, I would probably be doing Tae Kwon-Do anyway.
Master Gorino’s Tae Kwon-Do offers a trial program for individuals and families in Buffalo, NY and the surrounding areas that allows you to get a feel for the different classes, meet our instructors, and experience our dojang. It’s a great way to see if Tae Kwon-Do is right for you. To learn more or to sign up, register online or call (716) 836-KICK (5425) and a member of our team will follow up with you on next steps. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals. Pil-Sung!
