Scorching spell prompts lifestyle changes in Kolkata – Times of India

Kolkata News

KOLKATA: The rise in temperature has led to lifestyle changes for a large number of residents in the city.
A host of morning walkers have shifted to post-dusk walks, fitness enthusiasts are skipping gym sessions or are opting for less strenuous workouts, sales executives are skipping afternoon market visits, more people have been opting for doorstep delivery of stationery and groceries, and a number of employees in corporate and tech firms that have been practising the hybrid mode of functioning have been opting for the work-from-home module for the time being.
“Since the start of the pandemic, I made it a habit to go for morning walks and it has helped me get back into shape. But it is so hot these days that I fell sick last week. Hence, for the last two days, I have been going out for late-evening walks after office rather than sweating out in the morning heat,” said Sutirtha Basu, a Jadavpur resident.
While several city gyms complained of a drop in attendance in the mornings, fitness trainers are focussing on less strenuous exercises rather than heavy workouts. “We have made significant changes in our training modules and are asking members to spend more time on free hand exercises. Also, we have changed the diet charts and are asking each member to stay hydrated to avoid falling sick during workouts,” said Gagan Sachdeva, who owns a chain of fitness centres in the city.
The heat gets particularly gruelling for those out on the roads in the afternoon. While some are forced to stay outdoors for professional commitments, those who can, are tweaking their work timetables. Behala resident Arijit Bose, a sales executive with a leading cement manufacturing company, has been conducting his market and dealer visits from 8am and is wrapping up by noon. If needed, he is again heading out of office after 4pm. Similar has been the schedule for auto driver Ganesh Prasad. “Now, I start driving from 5.30am and get back home by 10am. I again go out after 4pm and drive till around 10pm,” said Prasad, who drives on the Thakurpukur-Taratala route.
Shyambazar homemaker Arati Das said the heat has forced her husband and father-in-law to stay indoors as much as possible – a feat she couldn’t achieve even during the Covid restriction periods.
“It seems Covid has made us weaker. I felt sick travelling to and from office and since I had the option to shift to work from home, I have been doing so,” said Soumya Banerjee, a Hooghly resident who is a senior official of a tech firm in Sector V.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/scorching-spell-prompts-lifestyle-changes-in-kolkata/articleshow/91196999.cms