On my weekly runs around the local lake, it is very gratifying and inspiring to see people of all shapes and sizes (and ages) getting their steps in. It doesn't matter if those steps are rapid or leisurely; what really matters is that they are moving. Kudos to all of them, because I personally know how difficult it can be to keep consistency.
Seeing other exercisers getting after it also motivates me to keep to my schedule. There are no days off! Unless of course there’s an injury, then by all means, please take a day off. An underappreciated aspect of going to commercial gyms - versus working out at home - is the community. Even if you don’t speak to a single soul during the time there, the innate understanding that everyone there is working towards the same thing is very powerful. You don’t dare skip a rep, because others around are aware.
Of course the primary reason I work out at home is the time savings. There’s no waiting for equipment to open up, and it’s practically available at all waking hours. But that’s the thing about being social and out in the community: it takes time and effort. We have to shed some of our selfishness in order to be part of groups. It’s easy to romanticize the lone-wolf individualism in this country, but perhaps it’s prudent to trade away some convenience to get some of the social benefits.
We are tribal animals, after all. Thoreau at Walden Pond can only ever be a phase. If there is this supposed loneliness epidemic going on, the solution is obvious: go outside, meet people in real life. Social media is great only if it leads to gatherings in person. There’s no substitute for live pixels right in front of our eyes, rather than pixels on a screen.
Even just being around people - no chatting, like me running at the lake, is enough of a positive boost!
Chicken crossing the road.