It was early January 2020 when I returned from touring 3 different cities in 2 weeks. To start with, Chicago weather was relatively mild during the Christmas holidays and similar to Dallas, where I am based. My host was suffering from a bad cold, so I kept my distance. Both of us are fitness enthusiasts, and for those 4 days, we trained hard to aid his recovery and boost my immune system. Being within the top 1% of my age group for health metrics, I doubted that I would catch any illness from the journey.
From Chicago, I flew to Dubai for a couple of days for business meetings. From a Chicago winter cold to a Middle Eastern desert heat is a dramatic shift, and so I rested and paced my activity to ensure that I could function with alertness and positive energy. I did some shopping, took precautions to sleep, rest and enjoyed the hospitality of the local host for our trip. Again, this was a pleasant and enjoyable experience and there was little to no exposure to any illness.
Next came the visit to Turkey. Fethiye is a beautiful town on the southern Mediterranean side of the country, off the coast. The weather here was similar to Dallas. It was winter, but with a sweater and light outerwear, tolerable. We stayed inside a beautiful mansion-like property with a view of the sea and harbor. This was a Sufi retreat for people visiting from South Africa, Germany, Mauritius, Indonesia and other parts of the US. We ate well, slept well and enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about ourselves from a Shiekh who was also trained as a medical doctor, providing generously for our visit. The environment was idyllic.
Upon my return, I fell ill from symptoms of a virus-like sickness. I had no idea what coronavirus was, nor knew the risks involved in contracting it. When I went to bed, the following week went by in a haze, with days and nights merging without relief. I had little to no appetite, a terrible cough with upper respiratory congestion. Needless to say, there was no way to train, only rest. It took nearly 4 more weeks after this to return to normal. Thankfully, my lifestyle habits enabled me to endure and recover quickly. When I was much younger, Malaria and bronchitis took longer to recover from, mostly because I was a bookwork with ordinary immunity.
I am fairly certain that what took me down was the coronavirus. The symptoms and the aggressive nature of the illness match the stories of others that have endured this illness. It was one of the worst episodes of sickness I have experienced in the last 7 years. The last time I felt this way was in 2013 while staying in Singapore. That was a different viral infection, but with a relatively short period of downtime by comparison. My lifestyle at this point was similar to my routines last December, so the immune system and hygiene were not a factor. Lifestyle habits helped in both cases. Fasting was body’s natural way to cope with the illness.
Proactive and daily exercise routines are the best ways to prepare for such illnesses for 2 primary reasons: 1) They build a stronger immune system for recovery and 2) They prevent the long-term onset of terminal illnesses such as diabetes and heart conditions. The best way to do this is to combine moderate-intensity interval training to increase cardiovascular and muscular strength using compound movements and resistance to engage numerous muscles. I will address such routines from my plans in another post.
According to Italian sources, 99% of those that have died from this virus had a co-morbidity with other illnesses. By observing better lifestyle habits, you can reduce the possibility of contracting other terminal illnesses that when exposed to a virus such as Coronavirus, increase the possibility of a fatality. Exercise prevents illness by increasing metabolic processes, reducing stress and mental disorders such as depression and with this, the consumption of addictive substances. It is best to have good lifestyle habits to address seasonal illnesses and daily tension in general.
Coronavirus is spread primarily through airborne methods and since airplanes that recycle air and spread it, this is likely where I caught it. Lifestyle habits of avoiding stress, increasing sleep and rest as well as good social attitudes and hygiene do not reduce the likelihood of staving off coronavirus. I doubt wearing a face mask would have spared me the possibility of catching it. Self-quarantine and social distancing are the best precautions. Avoiding travel and public transportation is also a prudent choice.
As of this post, the wider implication of the covid 19 spread and casualty levels are uncertain. Certain observations come to mind, regardless of how this situation unfolds. In South Korea as an example, containment has been exemplary. Unlike most of the countries where the spread and panic are widespread, advanced preperation and rapid response have reduced the fatalities there better than anywhere else. In societies where such planning and infrastructure are lacking, the response will be inadequate.
There is no going back for telecommuters. The ability to work from home increases productivity and provides obvious conveniences. It has a self-quarantine quality with a social distancing advantage built-in. Organizations can also reduce dependence and the cost to support commercial infrastructure and office space and improving the bottom line.
Traffic on the roads will decrease, and likely increase the investment in new technology infrastructures such as broadband and communications will improve costs and access. What then is the downside? Alienation, adverse affects on already diminishing social skills, increased sedentary habits, and a fixation on the virtual world. People will further remove themselves from the natural world. The solution is to adjust and make time to connect with others at a social level and develop interests outside of the work environment while at home. The upside is that we have more time to exercise and use this time to our advantage for learning.
The world is currently struggling to fill entry-level business roles, technology roles, and other white color positions. Telecommuting is only available to those who can work from home and remotely. For those who are not already in a position to do this, the reality of the current lockdown should suffice. It is to your best advantage to acquire the knowledge and skills to find a position that will enable you to work remotely or telecommute. These opportunities are far superior to the labor positions of the last century.
We have all observed the exaggerated way that the public behaves when made aware of a disease outbreak. The way that household staples have been quickly cleaned out from stores is an indication of the irrational and fear-based paranoia that the public is likely to be lead by in times of uncertainty. Being mentally tougher and emotionally less movable enables us to be more situationally aware and vigilant if the situation turns for the worst. We should minimize the need to acquire products to the extent possible by improving household resources to filter water and also adopt alternatives for hygiene available in the market like a bidet.
Becoming a minimalist is also to our advantage because if there are longer-term limitations of supply, enduring limitations of foods and supplies will become more difficult. By conditioning ourselves to be less dependent on prepared food and disposable goods helps us in general. The population of the world is growing, incidents of this variety are likely to increase as hygiene and responsible social behaviors did not change as of the last pandemics of SARS, S1N1 Swine flu, etc. Improve the ability to function at a distance and building your capabilities for independence is a healthy Self-Care capability to serve you in the future. Good Luck ahead.