People for Bikes released this short video back in 2015. It was a great reminder to get out of the house and ride your bike to release the pressure and stress of the house, work and other daily activities that can get your mind in a really negative space. Fast forward to 2020/2021…and I believe this video has more value than ever.
2020 Reminded Us To Get Out and Ride
Life can get in the way of mental health for sure. Thanks to COVID…2020 brought most of the world more added stress than we could possibly imagine. Of course there was the worry you or your loved ones would get sick. That goes without saying. But the added stresses that came along with the situation may have had even more of an impact.
People became isolated.
You can see it in social media comment sections and how people interact now. Stress and loneliness from being locked up has had a profound impact on society. I am not sure that we even fully know how this will effect the younger generations moving forward. There was one thing we could do to “shed the monster”…get out and ride.
For the first time in a long time, I started seeing kids in the neighborhood out riding bikes. The local cement trail systems were crowded with new riders. Local trail systems were seeing record turnouts even on weekdays. Bike shops have never been busier with repairs and bike sales.
People just needed to get out and get some fresh air away from virtual school, Teams meetings and being relegated to the house for hours on end. They needed to “shed the monster” which in many cases can be debilitating depression, laziness, screen exhaustion and other negative aspects of being tied to the house and computer all day long with remote learning and working. We didn’t have the drinks after work with friends, in person interactions and other positive social aspects of life that keep positivity growing and alive within ourselves.
A friend of mine reposted this video on social media and it really is fitting for our time. If you find yourself turning into a monster…shed it by getting in some spin time. Even if it is just a quick spin around the neighborhood…the fresh air and physical activity can have a profound positive impact on your mood and overall life outlook. It’s a great way to get back to thinking more positive and preserving a quality lifestyle during some very strange times.
Shed the Monster and make a goal of getting out and away from a screen more. Live the Ride.