This first edition of Medic Mastery 3-2-1 features:
3 Quick Fitness Tips for First Responders
2 New Blog Articles
1 Question for You!
3 Fitness Tips for First Responders
I. Get Free Access to a Great App
Down Dog is offering free access to their Yoga, Barre and HIIT until July 1 for healthcare professionals. The only catch is that it looks like you probably need an email address from your employer to access the deal. Without it you can get free access until June 1.
For the past 3 weeks I have substituted my morning meditation with a 15-25 minute yoga practice using their yoga app. I've really enjoyed the extra movement, especially before shift. And if you maintain your focus on your breath you will reap many of the benefits of mindfulness meditation while getting in a bit more movement.
II. Get "High" Before Work
Now that the temperatures are warmer and the sun is up earlier, you might consider jogging or biking before shift to capitalize on what Kelly McGonigal terms "the persistence high". It's that dump of feel-good hormones nature rewards you for when it suspects you might be out on a hunt.
To achieve the high, Kelly writes, "you just have to do something that is moderately difficult for you and stick with it for at least twenty minutes" Joy of Movement p. 18.
III. Try Exercise for State Change
Most of the time we think of exercise in terms of long term goals:
Bigger muscles. Trimmer waistlines. Run a marathon.
However, people who exercise the most consistently do so because of how it makes them feel right now.
Adopting a mindset of exercising for a change of state might be the most sustainable approach to fitness there is.
2 New Blog Articles
I. The Big Three: What’s Important Now?
One of the things I absolutely love about pre-hospital education paradigms is the simplification of trouble-shooting algorithms.
In this article I play with comparing the Circulation + Airway + Breathing "Big Three" of a cardiac arrest management, to Brian Johnson's Energy + Work + Love approach to troubleshooting and optimizing life.
II. Grappling with Obstacles to Physical Fitness for EMTs, Paramedics and First Responders
I've been studying fitness program design for a long time. Just when I thought I had it all figured out I became a paramedic.
In this article I outline some of the unique challenges that first responders must grapple with when pursuing fitness.
Knowing what you're up against is a solid foundation for a little self-compassion and adoption of sound strategies going forward.
1 Question For You
I. What do you think?
Hit reply and let me know what you like and dislike about this new newsletter format. I want to know the good, bad and ugly!
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Yours in the pursuit of Medic Mastery,
Brendan
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