By Maryam Iman Binti Norhashimi
GOMBAK, 23 August 2021: While being in a lockdown, today is the most opportune time to cope with COVID-19 pandemic as it is beyond doubt that it is taking its toll on our physical and mental health.
IIUM.fm has therefore organised a session discussing simple ways to encourage students to maintain and develop a healthy lifestyle to avoid feeling burnout.
After a year of long-dragging online classes, both speakers in a discussion on the fifth episode of #WeHearYou,“Healthy Lifestyle during the Pandemic” shared the common view, proving it to be health degrading at some point.
The discussion was conducted live last Saturday (21 August).
The speakers were Siti Khadijah Mohd Bustaman, senior psychology officer of International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), Kuantan, and Dilla Murad, a student from Tourism Planning and Hospitality Management (TPHM) from the same campus.
Following the topic on “Healthy lifestyle during the pandemic”, both speakers showed their concerns to promote ways to jumpstart a healthy change in lifestyle – “the key is to believe in modification”, according to Siti Khadijah.
Meanwhile, Dilla who has her own YouTube channel, encouraged others to seek motivation from this platform and to find the most enjoyable exercises to do at home. “It is much better to start a virtual workout with your friends and set a weekly challenge together,” she added.
This suggestion was strongly supported by Siti Khadijah, who also teaches her online viewers exercises that are safe during pregnancy. She implied that everyone needs a workout routine not only to be in good shape but to preserve a positive mind and soul as well.
By burning calories, our body produces more of a feel-good hormone called dopamine, a type of neurotransmitter that promotes brain pleasure making us feel motivated and energised, she said. Therefore, morning workouts should be made a routine instead of a night exercise as it can reduce our sleeping quality.
She added that “brushing aside mental health can also backfire our physical health” as over-prolonged stress leads to the decline of the immune system in the body.
While some people do feel ‘good’ even without exercising, they are not exceptional when it comes to battling major illnesses. “People tend to take this matter with a grain of salt until they lost their only place to live, which is their body.”
However, she said, it is never too late to develop this new habit of exercising. “The least we can do for our body is to take a bath under morning sunshine every day and choose the best breakfast that keeps our stomach happy.”
All in all, practising a healthy lifestyle is not only for ourselves and our future, but also for people around us.
The talk was hosted live by IIUM.fm on IIUM.fm’s Discord and YouTube channel.***