When you hear (or read) the word movement, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? 

For some of us, it’s a run, for some it’s time at the gym, for others it could be walking your dog, or dancing to your favorite playlist. Movement doesn’t always mean exercise but it is always a chance to get our heart rate up above resting. 

The beauty of movement is that it is something we consciously and unconsciously experience all the time. As UMBC community members, we don’t often think about walking from the parking lot to our first destination of the day as movement. But it is. 

During our time of physical distancing and staying home, many of us are becoming sedentary, which negatively impacts our health. To combat risk related to sedentary lifestyle, we must intentionally incorporate movement into our daily routine. 

Some of the benefits of movement are: 

• Stress relief 

• Better mood

• Increased energy

• Loosening stiff muscles

• Weight management

• Lowering risks for chronic diseases in the future

• Improved concentration

So how can we incorporate more movement into our daily routine?

• Find something for you. 

• When trying to incorporate more intentional movement into your routine, it is important to pick something that you would actually like to do. For some of us, it could be taking a walk during the day or doing an indoor workout. 

• Schedule it. 

• Creating a schedule increases the likelihood of accomplishing a task. Treat movement as an event for the day. Select a time that works best for you and stick with it. Try using an activity planner. 

• Enlist a partner.

• Lots of things are better with friends, including getting active. Getting friends or family members to join you can create a sense of accountability and create stronger social connections. 

• While the CDC has asked that persons only physically interact with people who live with us, that doesn’t prevent you from getting active with others who don’t live with us. Use an online platform, such as Google Hangouts, Whatsapp, FaceTime, to connect with a partner during a planned time for movement. 

Together, let’s commit to incorporating more movement in our daily routines and getting active. 

UMBC is offering a number of ways for community members to stay active during physical distancing. Check out UMBC Recreation for resources to help you stay active! 

Want a few more options? Give these a try:

• 7-minute Workout App: Free app available for download

• Nike Training Club: Free app available for download

• Strava: Free app available for download

• Campus Well [Formerly Student Health 101]

• More At-Home Workouts

• AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk: Take a virtual walk with friends to raise awareness!

Heidy George is the Program Associate for Student Diversity and Inclusion. When she manages to find spare time, she likes to take dance classes and HGTV her living room.

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I am very much aware of my privilege. I also know that I have many things to be grateful for. And yet, I’m not going to lie…I am struggling. No, like, really struggling. 

Before starting my position at UMBC, I was recuperating from an eleven-month stint as a stay-at-home mom. The experience was simultaneously euphoric and debilitating. For eleven months, I watched in awe: as my baby grew, hit all her milestones and explored the world around her. I held her when she cried, changed what seemed like an impossible amount of diapers and learned how to function without sleep. I am not exaggerating. I no longer know what sleep is. I hear people talk about it and wonder, what is this mystical thing people keep mentioning? It’s as elusive as TikTok. 

But I digress. 

I read a lot of books before becoming a mom. However, the parenting books did not prepare me for any of this. They failed to mention the horrors of projectile diarrhea when your infant is sick, how your heart skips a beat when they smile at you, or that you may be parenting a toddler during a pandemic. 

I had only been working at UMBC for six months before the physical campus was closed. I was really just starting to get the hang of things when we all were informed that we would be working from home. 

After going back to work, I remember sitting at my desk and thinking, “I really miss my baby. I wish I could work from home so that I could spend more time with her.” Wait, am I responsible for all of this? I now know that being a mom means you acquire super-powers. Maybe, I need to be more specific the next time I ask the universe for something. Now I am figuring out how to juggle being a working mom and a professional in a brand new Institution - my living room.

In all honesty, I’m not sure how much more of this my body can take. My back hurts from the lack of exercise (don’t you dare tell me I can exercise at home like I don’t have a seventeen month old!). My eyes hurt from all the Webex, Zoom and Google Hangout meetings. I just may need new glasses because I am pretty sure my eyesight is deteriorating more and more each day. On the upside Aldi’s now delivers in my area and my 17-month-old now knows how to open the bathroom door. 

Yay, milestones!

When well-meaning work folk ask, “how are you?” I honestly struggle with the answer. Is it professional to say that most of the time I don’t have a solid answer? Is it professional to admit that I don’t know if I brushed my teeth this morning before our 9am call? Is it professional to say that most days I really just want my mommy? Is this blog even professional? What is professional anymore? Have I shared too much?

Going back to work was not easy but somehow not being able to go back to work is even harder.

On the toughest days, I rely heavily on a select group of family, friends and colleagues that make me laugh and are able to hold all of my emotions. Their support helps motivate me to push through the sadness. I guess you could call them my village. I hope you have a village to help support you through whatever this is. If not, we always have room for more.

The Lavender Awards celebrate the wonderful achievements of UMBC's LGBTQ+ graduating seniors, graduate students, and their allies. We recognize students as well as the allied alums, staff, faculty, and programs that work to support them. Although we may not be able to host our Seventh Annual Lavender Awards on campus this semester, we can still honor the contributions of some of our most dedicated and committed LGBTQ+ community members. 

In the midst of all of the changes and challenges that 2020 has put upon us, we invite you to take some time out of your day to acknowledge and celebrate the good by nominating your peers and or colleagues for a Lavender Award. The award categories are: Emerging LGBTQ+ Student Leader, Service to the LGBTQ+ Community, Outstanding LGBTQ+ Ally, LGBTQ+ Student of the Year and the Lavender Legacy Award. 

A committee of 5 members has been formed to review all of the submitted nominations and vote on the awardees. Please help us recognize the achievements of our LGBTQ+ graduating seniors, graduate students and their allies by submitting your nominaton(s) by May 8th at 11:59pm. If you are a graduating senior or graduate student, you may also use this link to receive a lavender cord. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Heidy George at hmg@umbc.edu.

Many thanks in advance for your help as we acknowledge and celebrate some of our best and brightest.