The pandemic has brought on many challenges for the majority of us. Three that get constant attention are closed gyms, limited options at the grocery store, and practicing self-care at home when you’re never by yourself. Although we’ve learned how to circumvent many aspects of these sudden life changes, it pays to revisit ways you can master each as we wait for life to return to some sense of normalcy.
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Working Out at Home
Many gyms and fitness centers across the country have reopened, but if you’re not ready to return to secure a spot in your favorite fitness class or find an open treadmill, you can follow along with fitness classes online.
You can banish belly fat with the right yoga poses, such as the Bridge Pose and Cobbler’s Pose. When you need to enhance your cardiovascular workouts but the weather isn’t amenable to an outdoor outing, consider grabbing a weighted hula hoop. There are, of course, more ways to work out at home with minimal equipment or space.
Eating Well Without Trips to the Grocery Store
If you’re still self-isolating, you may have found that eating well isn’t quite as easy when you don’t go to the grocery store as often. But you do have options to help maintain your nutritional wellness. Amazon, Instacart, and others now offer same-day food delivery, and most Walmart stores do the same. You can also plan to grow some of your own vegetables — you could even start a neighborhood garden.
Even with diet and exercise, when you stick close to home, energy levels can be on the low side. But certain vitamins perk you right up. B-12 is one example, and it’s known to best aid in food-to-energy transformation. People who are vegetarians, have gastrointestinal disorders, or are aged 50 or older may be susceptible to a B-12 deficiency. This can further exacerbate fatigue as failure to intake enough B-12 may cause anemia, which is why it’s crucial to take stock of your nutrient sources.
Self-Care
Practicing self-care isn’t as easy when you have zero alone time. But self-care is more important now than ever, and if you have not already found innovative ways to prioritize your own mind and body, now’s the time. Wisconsin-based Moreland OB/GYN offers several suggestions for COVID self-care. These include stepping away from social media, journaling, and reconnecting with nature.
Another idea is to indulge in an at-home spa day using scented bath bombs, candles, and essential oils to lull you into a peaceful state of relaxation. Do this before bedtime as part of your winding down routine. You’ll find that you sleep better, which is another important facet of self-care. Make sure to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night, which will have a positive impact on your mental and physical health.
If tensions are running a bit high on the homefront, it’s only healthy to take steps to banish negative energy. Good, old-fashioned cleaning and decluttering will do wonders, as will smudging, letting in natural light and fresh air, and making use of healing crystals.
Realize Your Own Potential
Working out, eating right, and learning how to decompress are all vital skills when it comes to keeping yourself healthy. Don’t forget that another helpful component to wellness is realizing your own career potential, too. Is there a business you’ve always wanted to start? Or maybe you’d like to boost your career by pursuing an online degree — one that allows you to keep working and/or parenting while you learn at your own pace. If so, now is the time!
The bottom line here is that we have all had to learn how to adapt — and many of us are still learning. But until life can get back to normal, we all have to find ways to keep our mental and physical health at their very best. From exercising at home to eating well to improving your home’s energy, what you do now will affect how you cope with life’s everyday stresses during and after the pandemic.
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