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© Extreme Endeavors 2019

Staying Healthy in Isolation- Develop a New Purpose and Goals!

While today I own and operate the technology company Extreme Endeavors, I’ve also got 28 months “Ice Time” in Antarctica, including two winters at the South Pole in Antarctica. Because of this, I probably understand living in isolation and distancing oneself from the population better than anyone. This blog contains a few tips on staying healthy – mentally, physically and spiritually – during this time.


The first thing to understand is this: We need a purpose every day. During the caveman days, the purpose was to find food and stay alive. We have now evolved as a society to where we expect the grocery stores to have food, so that’s not our main purpose anymore.


Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the government’s reaction to it, our lives have changed dramatically. We need to refocus our purpose to adjust to this change. Many people who once dropped off their children at daycare have had to refocus their lives to take full-time care of their children. If you are a medical worker, you have refocused your work to accommodate for the virus. If you are a truck driver, your focus has shifted with an increase in intensity.


No matter your role today, everything has changed for everyone.
You need to contemplate how you are going to change to deal with this dramatic change. By answering this, you can view this current situation as an opportunity.


This is an opportunity to learn to draw. This is an opportunity to practice a musical instrument. This is an opportunity to make someone’s life better by cooking a meal. This is an opportunity to help your neighbor by stacking their firewood.


So, my recommendation is this: Start a list, asking yourself what can you achieve today, tomorrow, and in the following weeks?
Here are some suggestions:

  • Write a journal article or paper in a subject in your field of expertise. If you’ve always wanted to be published, now is the time.
  • If you are a spiritual person, I would encourage you to make a goal of studying your faith. If you’re a Christian, study Hindu or Muslim religions, for example, and draw similarities that may bind our cultures together.
  • Now is the time for spring cleaning and organizing that garage. Make a spotless garage your goal for this week!
  • Tackle that sewing project that’s been sitting in the closet for years. My wife’s grandmother, 93 years young, said recently, “I am sewing quilts and that keeps me productive and useful.” There’s a lot of truth in that.
  • Learn about a computer language and how to program.

Whatever you decide to do during this trying time, remember, this is an opportunity for all of us. What are you going to do with it?

By Mike Masterman President & CEO, Extreme Endeavors

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