Section 1: Evidence of Creativity

The health requirements in the ongoing pandemic have led to unprecedented living situations that demand people to observe self-quarantining, reduced interaction, and social distancing. The coronavirus has also led to the closure of gyms, making it harder for people to exercise. Many of the daily routines previously considered normal have been restricted, mainly because businesses and establishments are yet to fully grasp what the pandemic demands. Additionally, the infrastructure necessary to run businesses such as gym studios have yet to be implemented. The result is that many people are choosing to exercise from home, a situation that is not as useful as working out from a gym or a health and fitness center. Additionally, there are complications brought by the ideas of working from home and reduced movement. For many people, there is a problem in sticking to a strict workout routine. The camaraderie of a fitness center or a gym and the motivation such establishments bring are missed. Working out alone does not have the same intensity as being in a group of others motivated towards similar fitness goals.

In line with this, the idea is to establish a functional gym that meets the demands of working out despite being in a pandemic. Therefore, the main CQC is: How can we maintain a functional gym during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic? The idea is very simple, that the need to exercise is not reduced by the pandemic but has rather increased based on the change of routine and working from home. A functional gym is required to help people maintain health and fitness. A normal gym is not applicable today, and therefore this is a new idea with a new structure and infrastructure to meet the health requirements of social distancing and adherence to sanitation demands. To meet the need for people to exercise, the idea is to give them a gym that is conscious of the health and safety requirements of all users, while providing an environment that motivates people to exercise using an established routine.

Section 2: Conceptual Development Process

The idea of a functional gym that meets the demands of a population tied down from conventional interactions is necessary. In my decision making process, I began by thinking about how I can create a unique fitness center. In my research on what is required, I realized that the conventional structure and infrastructure of such businesses no longer apply today. No matter how well a fitness center or gym is equipped, it must not only meet the demands of a business establishment but also adhere to the safety and health protocols set by health institutions relating to how people can interact. As a result, I changed my thought process to include these new demands such as social distancing, sanitizing centers, temperature measuring gadgets, emergency response protocols, and a normal business plan relating to location, competition, and how to go about implementing these changes. I used data from research report articles, particularly a recent study by Kaur et al. (2020) on physical fitness during the current pandemic. The article influenced my decision in creating an idea that addresses an ongoing problem in line with a recurrent human need to stay fit and maintain regular exercise. The end product was after the realization that people need gyms while also adhering to the new health and safety procedures.

Section 3: Explanation and Reflection on Process

The uniqueness of the current coronavirus is that it has slowed down a fast-paced world into a standstill. Social distancing and reduced interaction with crowds of people are some of the most effective methods brought forward as effective preventive measures (Stockwell et al., 2021). Scholars also agree that while physical activities and fitness will not prevent one from getting the coronavirus, working out will provide other protective effects, revitalize the body, and help to improve health (Dun et al., 2021). Therefore, to further improve my thought process, the following additional questions were used:

What is required to create a safe working gym that meets the new health demands?

How can we convince people that the gym is safe for use despite the many health concerns?

Where do we set up the business to avoid competition from established studios?

Why is it important to have a functional gym in a pandemic?

When should the gym begin operations?

What should the target market be for the gym?

How can we ensure that the idea is received positively?

Why should we encourage people to go out to exercise when everyone else recommends working out from home?

Is there a relationship between better exercise and a boosted immune system?

Section 4: Developing CQC into a Creative Project

According to Lange (2021), the number of people who are comfortable going for exercise classes or attending a gym during the pandemic in the United States are divided as 11% who are very comfortable, 12% are somewhat comfortable, 18% are somewhat uncomfortable, 49% are very uncomfortable, and 10% have no opinion as shown in chart 1 below.

I found that to create a safe working gym that meets the new health demands, I must consult local authorities to get directions on how to ensure that employees and patrons are in a safe environment, including installing structures such as glass partitions between sections, ensuring the gym has a limited operating capacity at a time in line with social distancing requirements, and availability of sanitizers and hygiene-related facilities. Additionally, Brand, Timme, & Nosrat (2020) suggest more research on safety measures because of how information relating to the pandemic continues to change daily. To convince people that the gym is safe, I found the use of local celebrities and influencers as an effective method, including their physical presence in some of the workout sessions. To reduce competition, the location would not be an issue but rather having high-quality equipment and state-of-the-art infrastructure that caters to the demand of social distancing and proper exercising. The gym would begin operations mid-May to ensure that all ideas are well implemented.

References

Brand, R., Timme, S., & Nosrat, S. (2020). When pandemic hits: Exercise frequency and

subjective well-being during COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 2391.

Dun, Y., Ripley-Gonzalez, J. W., Zhou, N., Li, Q., Chen, M., Hu, Z., … & Liu, S. (2021). The

association between prior physical fitness and depression in young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic—a cross-sectional, retrospective study. PeerJ, 9, e11091.

Kaur, H., Singh, T., Arya, Y. K., & Mittal, S. (2020). Physical Fitness and Exercise During the

COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Enquiry. Frontiers in Psychology, 11.

Lange, D. (Mar 11, 2021). COVID-19: Share of people who would return to gym/exercise

classes in the U.S. 2020. Statista. Available at https://www.statista.com/statistics/1125874/covid-share-respondents-returning-gym-classes/Stockwell, S., Trott, M., Tully, M., Shin, J., Barnett, Y., Butler, L., … & Smith, L. (2021).

Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a systematic review. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 7(1), e000960.