The case for IRL experiences

In the past 3 years, everything went digital.

Workouts.

Shopping.

Learning.

Networking.

Celebrations.

Work.

Even friend and family hangouts.

Some of these changes improved our quality of life. Less time spent waiting in lines, driving around the city, or stuck in rush hour traffic is undoubtedly a good thing. Teaching Grandma who lives across the country to FaceTime on her iPad in order to stay connected to grandkids is a good thing. Flexibility to work from home to manage doctor appointments or sick kiddos or avoid long commutes is a good thing.

But can there be too much of a good thing? And, are we all *actually* using that extra time for good, or are we just spending extra time scrolling and bingeing?

If you primarily work from home now, there is a very good chance that the only people you interact with in a day are your partner, your kids, maybe your grocery cashier (unless you are getting that delivered, too).

In a group social setting, it’s natural that people break off into smaller groups, make introductions, start sidebar conversations. Try doing that on a Zoom call - it’s not nearly as organic (or fun!)

I, for one, enjoy the connections, the water cooler chit chat, the “nice to meet ya”, the organic relationship building that comes from IRL experiences, and the opportunity to leave my house and create some delineation in my day rather than one big blur of sleep - eat - work - play - workout - cook - sleep (sometimes all done in the same clothes!)

There’s also an energy to being around other humans - anyone who has ever found more success working or studying in a coffee shop than at home knows this. We are a social species, not designed to live our lives behind screens for 16 hours a day.

So the question is, if your workplace has gone fully remote (or always was), where do you get those IRL, analog experiences?

My answer: the gym.

For me, taking a group fitness class is often the ONE hour in a day when my phone is not within 6 feet of my body. I am forced to turn off the screens and instead focus inside - on my breath, my body, my energy, my heart, my lungs. Oh damn - all that sitting means I’m a little tighter and stiffer than I once was - but all the more reason to keep moving.

Sometimes, I observe the faces around me - some smiling, some whooping, some looking like they are dying a little (those ones I direct an extra whoop to). When it’s me dying, a smile or high five or shout-out from the Coach gives me a little boost of energy to get through the next block.

Can I work out alone, or with a screen? Yep.

Are there days when I need to be alone? Yep.

But sometimes, there are days when I’ve been alone for so long, and I feel SO lazy - and the last thing I *think* I want to do is work out… those are the days when I *really* need it.

Everything about our world has changed in the past 3 years.

But before you say to yourself “I’m so lazy” or “I’m so burnt out”, try asking yourself this:

“Am I lonely?”

“Do I need to get out of this house, change my stretchy pants, and be around some humans?”

“Could I benefit from some movement, some motivation, and some accountability right now?

If the answer to any of those questions is YES, then I invite you to check out ourIntro Offer and join me for a workout. I’ll be the one greeting you with a smile and a high five.