COVID-19 second lockdown? How to be a well prepared athlete

The coronavirus outbreak has caused many countries to impose a lockdown on the movement of their people. Although the psychological impact of a lockdown is yet to be fully understood, the effects it has on an athlete are many. This period of self-isolation causes an athlete to halt a round-the-clock exercise/preparation routine; a routine that usually involves a tailored regime, often practiced in tandem with teammates under the supervision of coaches and scientific experts. Subsequently, the absence of this schedule even affects mental health. This in turn takes a toll on a healthy lifestyle as nutrition and quality of sleep is disturbed.

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This forced sabbatical keeps athletes away from imperative training, tournaments and athlete meets. Communication and monitoring by coaches, which ideally needs to be on a daily basis, becomes restricted. Furthermore, in addition to socially isolated training, there is also stress on athletes to consciously remain safe. It is imperative that they maintain stability - physically and mentally. It is not an easy task to always be prepared for the resumption of a regular regime and competition without a loss in quality and form. This readiness requires humungous efforts.

Sports nutrition boosts performance, reduces fatigue and limits the risk of illness and injury. It balances energy intake and energy expenditure with the essential vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and other healthy nutrient constituents. But when confronted with such a shake-up and disorder in everyday life, can an athlete focus on a healthy diet and uncompromised lifestyle? For instance, an uninterrupted and well-rested sleep schedule is of great importance to an athlete’s physical and psychological health. It facilitates optimal performance. It helps ensure a physiological and psychological recovery process. However, the anxiety of the pandemic and long hiatuses in regular schedule has caused many people (not just athletes) sleep disturbances. How does an athlete, then, manage the consequences of the COVID-19-induced sleep disorders?

Over the period of next week, we at ATIUM will help you with the dos and don’ts during the COVID-19 second lockdown. So that you do not lose shape, focus and your athletic ability to perform when things are back to normal.

You can also get in touch with us directly for any guidance and support regarding the COVID-19 Wellness tracker on our ATIUM app @ hello@atiumsports.com