Covid-19 quarantine takes affect on personal fitness and finances
Coronavirus is continuing to alter the publics every day life in almost every aspect. While the majority of Ohioans are not at work and are staying home, finances and fitness are two major areas that can be widely affected by the pandemic.
Research at the Pew Research Center estimated 1 in 3 Americans had to take a pay cut or had been laid off due to the pandemic.
Amy Schultz, Money Coach and CEO SmartGirlMoney said taking care of your money and budgeting during the pandemic is crucial.
“If you don’t know what you’re spending and you don’t know where your money is going, it’s going to be really hard to make your goals happen and make sure that you’re not overspending and buying things that you don’t really need,” said Schultz.
Schultz encourages those affected by unemployment to apply for unemployment benefits through the government.
Economists say the country’s unemployment rate could reach 13% by May. The highest jobless rate peak was during the ‘Great Recession’, in 2009 at only 10%.
Christian Gullatta, Kent State senior worked in the service industry as a waiter so he is currently unemployed. Gullatta is trying not to spend money as much as he can. “I order take out a few times so besides that, there’s nothing to spend money on.”
“Ask friends and family and see if somebody has something that they can lend you knowing that they’ll pay it back eventually,” Schultz said. “And just try to keep calm and keep a positive mindset about it. I know that’s the hardest thing.”
Throughout the next few weeks, millions of Americans will receive a $1,200 stimulus check.
Laura Nary is a retired elementary school teacher received hers last week. She decided to donate her check to a variety of non-profits including the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and United Way.
“The government’s giving me this money to help out so I’m gonna make it help out,” said Nary. “I’m lucky I’m in a healthy place and I’m really blessed to share my blessing.”
Schultz recommends every having $1,000 in a “rainy day fund” and also have three to six months saved in an emergency fund that’s farther away.
Schultz’s advice is to try to continue the same funding and put a little bit more into savings. “The good news is that it will be kind of a rush to go out and have fun and enjoy things again,” Schultz said. “So that money is going back into the economy.”
According to Digital Commerce 360’s study, online grocery shopping is soaring at a 210.1% increase.
Schultz said people start making fear based decisions when they are experiencing panic.
“Groceries are definitely one of the big things because people are in that panic mode,” Schultz said. “And so your brain automatically thinks like, I need to have this and have more of this just in case.”
Schultz said many Americans feel a sense of comfort when they have more food around the house.
Uma Naidoo, MD from Harvard Medical School says a loss of a daily routine can increase anxiety and disrupt healthy eating.
“People aren’t going to be motivated to eat right or to stay active if they’re not in a good place mentally,” said Noah Haislah, Personal Trainer and Marketing Director at Fitness Together.
“Be proactive with grocery shopping,” said Haislah. “Watch what you bring into your house. That’s a big thing.” Haislah said to use online tools to calculate how you should be eating in a day based on your weight, age and how much physical activity you do.
Even if you’re working out every day, if you keep opening the fridge and you keep opening the pantry and keep having these snacks every day,” said Allison Goodwin, Dietitian and Personal Trainer. “That’s unfortunately just going to negate all the things that you did work out wise.”
Goodwin says people who usually workout with a trainer are lacking motivation and believes people will lose 15 pounds during quarantine or gain it.
“I do know a lot of people who really cannot work out in their own homes and they need to go to a gym,” said Goodwin.
She said he has a lot more more time at home but is not used to doing at home workouts so he is hesitant to start them. “It doesn’t feel like it would be effective, because I also rely on things like weights and equipment that I just don’t have.”
“For a lot of people, going to the gym is therapeutic,” said Haislah. “So they’re frustrated, and so they’re not doing anything. So I think a big part of this is being willing to step out of your comfort zone.”
Adam Dunckel, Kent State Dietetics grad student says people are just less motivated because they’re in a state where they are not interacting with people. “You’re not really getting as much done as you could if this wasn’t happening which will decrease.”
Both Haislah and Goodwin emphasized the online resources people can use in their homes.
“There are a lot of fitness things on Instagram and Facebook right now that are doing live videos,” Goodwin said. “I’ve seen a lot of people participating in those.”
Nary originally joined her city’s Y at the beginning of this year but now has to do online workouts from home.
“I have done either a Silver Sneakers workout on YouTube, or a Silver Sneakers yoga program,” Nary said. “I am determined that I am going to keep this up.”
Haislah said it could be dangerous for some to work out at home if you do not have proper form or someone watching you but there are ways to still get a good workout in.
“Dumbbells and kettle bells can be substituted for milk jugs, bottles and soup cans,” Haislah said. “You can use pots, pans, backpacks you can fill up if you don’t have a medicine ball. You can use once again fill up like a backpack, a little nap set, milk jugs, soccer balls like a basketball.”
Gullatta says he has some free weights at home and tries to use a treadmill at his parents home.
Nary also likes to walk outdoors when she has a chance. “When I get myself out of the chair after dinner I try to walk at least a half hour,” Nary said.
Goodwin said you can also use home-friendly workout tools like a TRX.
Haislah said it is important to wake up at the same time every day, plan our your meals and to try and get at least 10,000 steps in a day.
“It’s important to get my steps,” Gullatta said. “I’m so used to walking to class or walking downtown and when you’re in your house you’re just sitting there.”
Dunckel says it is challenging for people to be isolated in their homes all day where they have 24 hour access to a kitchen. “It’s definitely a comfort thing and a lot of people are struggling emotionally,” said Dunckel.
“People are complaining about how much they’re bored and there’s nothing to do,” Goodwin said. “Start your fitness routine now. And start your healthy eating habits.”
Is your fitness routine or financial plan affected by the pandemic? Hear what local fitness and financial experts have to say about maintaining a proactive lifestyle during quarantine on https://t.co/fVzIcJiAjJ.
— Erin Simonek (@ErinSimonekTV2) April 15, 2020
