A focus on staying fit and healthy in challenging times
We may gradually be reverting to a degree of normality, but almost everyone accepts that COVID isn’t going to go away and, for most of us, life is never going to be quite the same as we knew it before the pandemic thundered across the world. Most of us acknowledge that staying fit and healthy is more important than ever. Taking steps to keep fit and healthy in these challenging times helps ensure we have a strong immune system to protect us against being seriously ill if we are unlucky enough to contract the virus. Additionally, as NHS waiting lists reach an all-time high it is more important than ever that we take responsibility for our own health and wellbeing.
So let’s refresh ourselves on some of the basics of keeping fit and healthy:
Nutrition
There’s no getting away from the fact that there is a strong connection between your food and health, and this seems to be one of the areas people have struggled with over the last eighteen months. Comfort food, ready-meals, take-aways and too much alcohol have been a common factor as people’s lives have been in turmoil. We know they are bad habits, but habits can be challenging to change…
Experts suggest you need to have a plan in place before choosing your groceries. Secondly, it is best if you avoid doing the groceries when you’re hungry. Simply put, you need to create a demarcation between the necessities and luxuries. For this to happen, check out whatever you have and see how you prepare your meals.
Healthy Life Essex features many articles on nutrition with a focus on the fresh products and wholegrain foods associated with a healthy Mediterranean diet. Without question, a good diet is the first step towards a healthy lifestyle.
Stress and Sleep
Managing anxiety and stress is crucial. Now that the COVID 19 is omnipresent, it is important to be mindful about having a balanced sleep cycle.
Understanding how sleep affects the immune system is essential
Some healthy sleeping habits include:
- Only going to bed when you are sleepy
- Having a good routine
- Avoiding caffeine after 3 pm
- Not eating late at night
Exercise
We all need to ensure we are getting enough exercise and again, a good fitness regime is a habit that once lost can be hard to resurrect.
Fitness doesn’t have to be hitting the gym. The golden rule is to do something you enjoy. That includes activities such as gardening and dancing. A good walk in the fresh air is always an excellent part of a good fitness regime.
Many fitness professionals are providing online classes to help their clients stay fit, including many free options such as via YouTube. Pilates and Yoga have been particularly popular as they are good for mental wellbeing as well as fitness and mobility. If you don’t feel ready to go back to physical classes, there are plenty of other options!
If you have been inactive or suffered any health issues, most health walks have now resumed. These walks are fully supported by trained professionals and enable people to walk at a pace that is suitable for them.
If your mobility levels are very low, try these NHS gentle sitting exercises.
Fresh air
We have all been couped up for far too long, and an important aspect of staying fit and healthy is getting enough fresh air.
Most people have some green space not too far away. Did you know that even going for a 10-minute walk in nature each day benefits the brain?
Getting enough fresh air will also help improve concentration, increase levels of Vitamin D – especially in the summer months, help reduce stress and helps you have a good night’s sleep.
Even if you’re a physically challenged individual, you can make use of the mobility scooter to spend quality time outside your home. Click here to give an idea of some of the options available that might be suitable for you.
Hygiene
Early research suggested that the SARS virus lives on stainless steel and plastic surfaces for several days and that these infectious hard surfaces were a major source of transmission. However, more recent research suggests that these traces of viral RNA are not necessarily cause for alarm. Air transmission still appears to be the major cause of the spread of the virus.
In our homes, unless anyone is infected, normal levels of hygiene should be maintained but this certainly does not need to be excessive.
The best form of hygiene and protection against this virus continues to be social distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands. In other words, we all need to take sensible steps to ensure we are keeping fit and healthy and avoid exposing ourselves to unnecessary risks during these challenging times.