Your health and wellbeing is important, especially during Covid-19. You may be self-isolating, working from home or socially distancing yourself from others, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be healthy, happy and in a good mental space.
A Google search on how to stay healthy throws up five key, repeated bits of advice:
- Eat healthy foods – healthy food, healthy body, healthy mind. The foods we eat have an effect on our body
- Drink plenty of water – hydration keeps our bodily functions working and also helps the process of removing toxins from the body
- Exercise – it is crucial for mental wellbeing and physical health. With ties to helping with depression and clearing the mind, exercise can help you have more energy.
- Sleep well – sleeping well can boost your immune system. A 2-week study monitored the development of common cold and found that those who slept less than 7 hours were 3 times more likely to develop a cold than those who slept 8 hours or more*.
- Keep yourself clean – don’t let the germs gather, keep clean, wash regularly.
It is easier said than done. How can we keep our minds healthy and our bodies active whilst avoiding the outdoors?
Firstly, Everyone Health may be able to help you with advice from a health trainer. Check your eligibility via the website, take an online assessment or call: 0333 005 0095. We can provide virtual sessions!
Ideas to keep active:
- At home yoga (some examples below but there are many more on the internet to suit everybody)
–https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene
–https://www.youtube.com/user/BaptisteYoga
- Online exercise workouts – One place to look is the NHS website, it provides a variety of workout programmes with pictures from:
–Gym free workouts
–10-minute workouts
–Sitting exercises
–Strength exercises
–Balance exercises
–Flexibility exercises
- Other places to look are This Girl Can and One You by Public Health England
- Dance to music
- Clean your home
- Going up and down stairs
Some ideas to keep your mind occupied:
- Colouring in – colouring in is good for the mind and is very relaxing
- Baking – Cook up a storm in the kitchen. Whether you are a good chef or just starting out, it is always fun to start baking. And, you’ll have something you can eat at the end of it.
- Puzzles – puzzles can keep your mind active, whether it is sudoku, a crossword, or a jigsaw puzzle, get your mind active
- Clay making – Make a model, make a bowl, make some characters for your child to play with or simply mess around
- Painting – it is messy but can end in beautiful results and is super fun. Try following some videos on YouTube, finger paint with children or create your own masterpiece.
- Writing – Even if it is just a diary of how you are feeling, what you have done, or some words on paper about what you could be doing, writing is relaxing and soothing. Who knows, you could end up writing a novel.
- Planting – order some seeds and start an indoor garden, plants can improve the breathing quality in your house, can brighten up the space and can keep you busy with planting, watering and growing. If you choose an edible plant, the results can then go towards your cooking.
- Keep in contact – make sure you call and video chat your friends and relatives, loneliness is bad for you both physically and mentally and can put a strain on your body.
And remember, we are here to help. Call: 0333 005 0095 and take a look at our website today to see our full range of services and where we are.
*NCBI, PubMed: Sleep habits and susceptibility to the common cold.