The Journal of: 1/26/2021
Paul Kasaija
1/25/2021
5:16 PM
A question that bugs me on a daily basis is what is the best usage of my time? Even with a routine, humans are creatures of progress and need change on a day-to-day basis. For me, this is reflected in the two activities I do the most: exercise and reading online media.
For exercise, I have detailed my routine before: it includes calisthenics modified with weights (weight elevated pushups, lunges with dumbbell curls, russian twists with weights), standard core exercises (sit ups, planks, and pull ups), as well as endurance and weight-training exercises (jump ropes, and dumbbell tricep raises). It is more than enough but we all need a little bit of change: fromthe convincing ideas of online exercise articles and the alluring prospects of a potentially fun change, I made a few useful additions to my daily routine. Before the workout routine begins, I usually just do normal stretches, both static and dynamic, and they can prevent sore muscles and leave me in a better shape afterwards.
However, this can be limited in its effectiveness in practice, so I added on some more advanced stretches that take inspiration from what a martial-artist or yogi would probably do: standing and lying back-bends, bridges, knee hops, and free-form stretches. It might sound silly, but these stretches are really the foundation of exercise, and to avoid causing yourself harm one should research the best stretches and their forms prior to the heavy lifting. Next, the articles I looked at provided a variety of side-exercises (for side-abdominal muscles), and shoulder exercises: I incorporated them into my routine, with the addition of lateral dumbbell raises, flys, bicycle crunches, regular crunches, side raises, and side leg raises. This literal “diversification” of my exercise portfolio, along with the additional time added, will accelerate my progress beyond the simple routine I had planned to stick with. So, I’m looking forward to see what this progress looks like after a few months!
Of reading online media, I don’t mean that I went back to social media! Anything but, because the majority of the informative internet doesn’t exist in things as easy to digest as 140 character messages. Rather, I went on an old haunt before I went to my brick-and-mortar high school, Khan Academy. In addition to reading Quora, listening to educational videos and practicing topical skills on Khan Academy was something I actually enjoyed doing from time to time when I was young. Nowadays, the topics are much harder of course— I’ve done Calculus 1 and 2 throughout high-school so the next sequential topic is Multivariable; and I’ve learned American history but a rather meager amount of world history in school, so the next topic is a deep dive into world history. The subject of math in general was something I always enjoyed, and my quantitative side was further built from the catharsis of not having to appease all of the red-tape conventions in writing. Clearly I have found my niche for writing when it comes to creative writing on my website, but don’t count on me switching to APA format any time soon (unless I have to!).
Today I read an article about the stimulus: how it is possibly worsening the economic state of our country despite its practical benefits for the American people. Like the author, I am not too convinced that the stimulus will really help our economy even if it helps people through this tough time— it is just that there is no real alternative for us to keep the ship together. If service companies and airlines need to be bailed out, then the majority of people probably do too, and there is no way around it. So, I will take the stimulus with grace and try to use it productively (investment in stocks/bonds, as well as helping others) rather than for my own short-term personal gain. I would suggest that anyone who is concerned about our future should do the same— don’t put all of your eggs in relying on the stimulus and just invest it in stocks/bonds and in helping your community.