It seems like the simplest thing - breathing, that is.
At the moment, amid panic over the spread of COVID-19, it's probably a good idea to spend a bit of time breathing slowly and deeply. That'll keep you cool, calm and collected. Unless Gladys diverts our vaccines again. In which case, get angry.
Spare a thought for those with asthma, though, who can't always get those delicious and deep life-affirming breaths that most folks take for granted.
Dan Marshall is a fitness fanatic and an asthmatic. He's joined with Newcastle's Lenore Miller to urge asthmatics not to get complacent. That is, don't stop taking your preventer medication.
Lenore lost her son Ryan to a severe asthma attack in 2007. He was 19 at the time. He'd run out of his asthma preventer three weeks earlier and not replaced it. About one in eight people suffer from asthma in the Hunter New England Health District.
Dan, who owns a gym called CoreFit Newcastle, spent weeks in hospital with asthma flare-ups when he was a youngster.
"I remember spending days and sometimes weeks at a time in hospital," he said.
One attack left him in intensive care.
"Back then, when your asthma wasn't good, you'd get hooked up to a nebuliser to help manage it. I remember nights where my parents would have to get me up in the middle of the night to hook me up every few hours."
Dan said exercise was important for lung health.
"I'm now 37. I haven't had a significant asthma attack in around 25 years and I think the fact that I'm active and healthy has certainly helped," he said.
"Growing up being active, I remember there'd be some days where I'd feel tight-chested and wheezy and think to myself I shouldn't be doing anything," he said.
"But as long as I took my preventer and had my Ventolin with me, I was fine. As a result, my lung capacity improved and I now rarely need to use my Ventolin when exercising."
These days, Dan only gets an asthma flare-up with "a head cold or in spring when the pollen comes out".
"Lenore's story shook me up a bit as I'm one of those people who's grown up with asthma and become complacent when it comes to taking my preventer, so I've begun getting back to taking it more regularly."
Dan and Lenore aimed to raise $2500 for Asthma Australia, which will go towards research into preventing and treating asthma. They've already raised $4015. To make a donation, search for TeamCoreFIt on makingadifference.gofundraise.com.au.
Keep Moving
Dan Marshall, of Corefit Newcastle, is urging people to stay active during lockdown.
"I had a conversation with a client today," Dan said on Facebook.
"To help paint the picture, this guy is close to 50, has respiratory issues, sleep apnea and other health complications."
The bloke continues to exercise.
"He said this to me which I thought was brilliant. 'Dan, if I'm going to spend my life working hard and then get to retirement, when it's time to spend my play money (superannuation), what good is it if I don't have my health?'"
Dan empathised with people who are struggling at the moment.
"I know it's not easy," he said.
"My advice: don't give unnecessary attention to reasons why you shouldn't exercise. Instead, focus intently on why you should."
