Grant Denyer gets his pilot licence during COVID-19 lockdown

Fun-loving TV and radio host Grant Denyer is known as one of the most hardworking people in show business but a global pandemic didn’t stop him from learning to do something he’s wanted to do for a while — learn how to fly a plane.

• The one thing Melissa Doyle won't do after leaving Seven
• $170m boost for aged care as PM defends MP’s shock gaffe

There’s definitely two ways to look at the way the coronavirus has changed our lives, isn’t there? Some of us are bouncing off the walls, desperate for restaurants and bars and offices and airports to get back to something a little closer to normal and to just get back out into the world.

And then there are the people who view it through a different prism; as an opportunity to take a break, a moment to breathe, to take stock and to really reconnect with family.

Grant Denyer falls squarely into the latter camp. The reason you tend to see Denyer everywhere — on TV almost every night, on radio almost every morning, or at events, galas or award nights — is because Denyer really is everywhere, with the Gold Logie-winner really earning his reputation as one of the hardest working people in show business.

And so when he was told he had to stay home, he immediately saw it as the most important gift — the gift of time.

Grant Denyer says being home more was good for him. Picture: Mark Stewart

“To be absolutely honest, I’ve had a couple of crazy years. In fact, I’ve had 300 nights in hotels in the last two and a half years,” he tells Health Hacker.

“So it was a chance to be home on a regular basis, which was good for the soul and amazing for the family. It’s been something that I’ve actually cherished.

“My tank was pretty empty, so it was a real chance to restore, replenish and revitalise. You’d never wish COVID on anyone, however, the silver lining is, I’ve actually never felt better.

“I thought I’d be this glowing example of creativity, pumping out brand new TV show ideas, writing books and planning my next global attack. But in reality, I was actually the opposite. I nested, I rested and I rejuvenated instead.”

MORE FROM HEALTH HACKER:

Bachelor Locky: ‘I’m up at 6am and in bed by 8.30pm’

How Aussie actor stays motivated in COVID-19 world

There’s a pretty powerful lesson there, I think. This pandemic has taken so much away from so many people, but in a weird way, it’s also given us something back.

That something is time, of course, and the rare opportunity to hit pause on our otherwise hectic lives so we can reflect and take stock.

Or, if you’re Grant Denyer — who is someone who doesn’t see to have the word “pause” in his vocabulary — you learn how to fly a plane.

“I wanted to make sure that I used the isolation period to do something completely different — and not television related whatsoever. Something I otherwise wouldn’t have the time to do,” he says.

“I loved the learning and studying because it made me feel like my period in iso wasn’t wasted. I didn’t want to look back after iso and regret not doing something useful with all that free time, so I put everything into learning to become a pilot.

“I had my first solo flight a few weeks ago and it was one of the greatest thrills of my life. I’m so glad I did it. It’s exceptionally rewarding.”

GRANT DENYER’S SECRETS TO HAPPINESS

1. Follow you heart

Grant Denyer likes to head to the country to de-stress. Picture: Instagram

“During lockdown, my head was telling me to use this time to develop and create but my heart was saying slow down, take it easy and top up the tank,” Denyer says.

“I listened to my heart instead. I saw this as a rare opportunity to de-tune, lower the noise and build up the battery banks for when everything returns to normal. I think it was the break my system needed, so I took it. I’ve ignored my body in the past, to my peril. I won’t make that mistake again.”

2. Live the mini-break

“I head out into the country on my dirt bike, I take the kids for bush walks and explore caves or the mountains, or I get on the tractor,” Denyer says.

“I’m very good at filling all my time with work and committing all my energy to it. However, this depletes me over time. It’s a one-way transaction that does run out. Adding in these little mini-breaks puts more back into my energy bank. The more I reliably take them, the less overwhelmed I am and the more productive I become.”

3. Nature calls

“I find just being out in nature really has a strong positive effect,” Denyer says.

“It calms any stresses and mellows the mind. It acts to declutter those busy and unhelpful thoughts that distract you. It calms the noise.”

* Grant Denyer is the host of Family Feud, which airs Sundays at 7.30pm on Network 10.

GET FIT AND HEALTHY WITH ADAM MACDOUGALL

Lose the beer gut without losing all the beers at themanshake.com.au

Adam MacDougall is the creator of The Man Shake. A new, healthy, weight loss shake that is low in sugar, full of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals that you can have on the run and leaves you feeling full.

For FREE Health & Fitness tips, follow Adam on:

FACEBOOK:

facebook.com/themanshake

TWITTER:

@adammacdougall5

INSTAGRAM:

adam_macdougall_

Originally published as Grant Denyer gets his pilot licence during COVID-19 lockdown