LIFT YOUR SPIRITS

Like many others, Russ Polson struggled during the depths of lockdown. The 31-year-old was used to being active, heading to the gym most days and playing in an American football team. But with everything shuttered, and no escape from the grinding reality of the pandemic, his mental health took a dive.While other people started pounding the pavements, Polson began to lift weights and do squats at home. And when restrictions started to ease, he headed back to his local gym.

“The difference in my mood when I could get into the gym for an hour was immense,” he says. “I was happier, had more patience with my small child, and began to look more positively towards the end of the pandemic and getting back to normal.”

Not only did the gym give him a change of scenery, but working on his strength also honed his focus and helped him feel motivated: “Even though it seemed like I couldn’t go about my life as normal, I