A FightCamp Trainer's Secrets to Happiness
Some of you may already know me from training with FightCamp, but if you don't, I've been a professional kickboxer and boxing coach for the last 15 years. I pride myself on supporting, motivating, and coaching others through physical and mental challenges every day. That's why it's important for me to share 5 keys to happiness that have helped me get through a trying time these past few weeks.
Sometimes in life, we get stuck in a rut. We lose our motivation to exercise, we forget what makes us happy, and we just want to feel sorry for ourselves. I know the feeling because I am going through it right now. A couple of weeks ago, I tested positive for COVID-19. I spent the first week alone in my one-bedroom apartment, watching Netflix, ordering Uber Eats, and sleeping--a lot. Somewhere along the line, I got depressed. Now here I am, a couple of weeks later and I am not physically sick anymore, but I still feel blue emotionally. So I came up with 5 things to do to make myself feel better.
5 Secrets To Happiness
1. Count your blessings
I know this is cliche, but saying what we’re grateful for does something for our spirit. I just took a walk down to the beach and I saw an old man who was in a wheelchair, with no legs. He was talking to himself as he rolled down the street. Immediately I thought to myself, what do I have to complain about? I looked up to the sky and listed off all of the things in my life that I am thankful for, and it made me deeply appreciative of all of them.
2. Workout
Sometimes the hardest part is just showing up. But this is the best thing that you can do to release endorphins. Find a buddy and go take a workout class. You will always feel better afterward, I promise. My favorite workout when I am feeling down is Boxing because it’s empowering and it gets me out of my head, and into my body.
3. Get outside in nature
I try to get outside in nature everyday. We need vitamin D and we need negative ions! Negative ions are odorless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that we inhale in abundance in certain environments. Think mountains, waterfalls, and beaches. Once these negative ions reach our bloodstream, they are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase the level of serotonin, which helps to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost our daytime energy.
4. Fight for something besides yourself
I know this seems counterintuitive because we are trying to make ourselves feel better! But the happiest people that I know live a life of service. You can volunteer somewhere or just reach out to a friend that could use some love and support.
5. Learn something
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. So let's switch up our perspective by learning something new. Read a book or sign up for a class on a subject that intrigues you. It is a great way to bring some novelty into your life.
Our emotional health is something that we need to work on daily. It is like sweeping the floor--if you don’t do it every day, the dust will come back. So when you plan your days, keep these five activities in mind, because you deserve happiness.
If you need a community or are looking for some new connections, especially some workout buddies, don't hesitate to reach out to the FightCamp Trainers and members of the FightCamp Facebook Community.
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The Author: Aaron Swenson, aka ‘Speedy,’ began his Martial Arts journey under his father’s guidance in the family’s dojo in Chicago. By 2013, Aaron was an accomplished fighter with two National Kickboxing titles and a USA National Kickboxing Team spot and fought for the prestigious GLORY Kickboxing organization. Since then, Aaron has become a sought after trainer in LA known for his technical approach to teaching, fancy pad-work, and utilizing music to make the workout fun and engaging. Aaron is a Founding Coach at FightCamp, where he leads boxing and kickboxing workouts and plans to make his return to the ring. Aaron is also USA Boxing Coach certified.