Staying Motivated During Lockdown - 8/14/20

Staying Motivated During Lockdown

The panel discussed ways to keep training and community ties going while in-person SCA practices and combat were limited. Their main message was to focus on what you can control, set manageable goals, and support one another—while respecting that people have different health risks and comfort levels.

Personal Motivation and Self-Care

• Get specific about your priorities. Notice what you choose instead of training, and ask whether those activities match your goals.
• Make the commitment manageable. Start with one activity—or even 10 minutes—instead of expecting yourself to complete an ambitious routine. Build up gradually.
• Plan and track your efforts. Keep a schedule or journal of what you did, what worked, and what got in the way. Acknowledge setbacks honestly, then decide what you’ll try next.
• Find an accountability partner. Share goals with a friend and check in with each other. Virtual practices, group chats, and regular online meetups can help maintain connection and consistency.
• Take small wins seriously. Showing up or completing a short session counts, even if it wasn’t your best workout.
• Look after your overall health. Pay attention to nutrition, hydration, strength, flexibility, and endurance—not just weapons practice.
• Use downtime productively. Work on armor or equipment, watch and analyze fights, attend online classes, or learn from experienced fighters. If you’re injured or unable to participate, observing a class can still offer useful insights.
• Treat a break as a chance to reset. Rather than assuming you’ll return worse, use the time to reconsider habits and build better movement or training patterns. One speaker suggested that repeating a routine for about 40 days can help establish a habit.
• Keep training safe and personal. Assess your own health risks and circumstances, follow applicable safety guidance, and respect other people’s decisions about whether and how to participate.

Coaching, Community, and Returning to Practice

• Keep reaching out. A call, message, video review, or virtual meeting can help someone feel supported. Leaders can also share equipment, advice, and projects remotely.
• Create community, not just workouts. Make room for conversation and camaraderie as well as practice; social connection was described as an important part of the SCA experience.
• Lead by example and stay adaptable. Coaches can help people find options, but individuals must choose and commit to their own goals.
• Return with realistic expectations. Start with fundamentals, pay attention to mechanics and how your body feels, and rebuild gradually. Avoid comparing your current ability with your pre-lockdown level—or judging others for theirs.
• Focus on learning and enjoyment. Approach a return with a beginner’s mindset, celebrate sound technique and progress, and don’t let ego or expectations spoil the experience.
• Use both physical and mental training. Pell work and conditioning are useful, as are studying strategy, reviewing fights, and learning how to read opponents.

Presenters and Sources

• Presenters: Duke Brannos, Viscount Tristan, Viscount Sagan, and Sir Leotuhlf of the Silver Hills
• Audience participant: Vesper
• Other people and sources mentioned: Countess Sonora (inspiration for a shared training session); Duke Radnor (pell-work advice); The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi