How to Live a Healthy Lifestyle During Coronavirus
Whether it’s the start, middle, or end of the year, it’s never too late to start (or restart) a healthy lifestyle. Granted, it hasn’t been the easiest year, but what is life if you don’t try and live it to the fullest?
Now that the world is facing one of its most daunting moments in history, there’s no better time to focus on the important things.
Namely, family, friends, health, and yourself. The world’s current predicament is brought about by the pandemic of the novel coronavirus. More aptly and commonly known as the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), it has undoubtedly affected countless lives, including yours. The virus is highly infectious and has shut down more than a dozen countries since its outbreak.
It can be passed on via respiratory droplets. Attacking the respiratory system, symptoms may range from mild to acute depending on the ability of the body to fight back. Cases have amassed millions and, unfortunately, have taken lives one too many.
With months of quarantine and social distancing, it has affected personal lives, jobs, families, and, and of course, health and wellbeing. Staying healthy is the most important thing to do and keep in mind as the world battles against this infectious virus.
Before you groan about how tiring this endeavor sounds, know that even the smallest changes can make a huge difference. They aren’t hard to do either! Only simple steps to help your body and mind.
By the end of this article, hopefully, you will find yourself wanting to try one or two or all of these tiny movements to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Reduce Toxic Workload
With everyone told to stay indoors, most jobs slowly shifted to working from home instead of going to the office every single day. The upside is that you can now submit those proposals in your favorite comfy pajamas.
The downside? A precariously thin line between work life and home life.
It’s no easy feat to delineate the two either. The physical space for both is the same. And it can get pretty overwhelming if you’re not careful enough. Burnout is common but it’s not something you need to suffer through if it can be altogether avoided.
Start off by creating a schedule that separates your personal time from your working hours.
For example, if you set five in the afternoon as your “clock out” time, stick to it. This means no more work stuff until the next day. Productivity is good but knowing your limits is also vital to healthy living.
Take some time to pamper yourself before bed. A good facial mask and watching reruns of your favorite show is always a good idea.
Learn to Eat Organic Food
A healthy diet is always recommended whether there’s a pandemic or not. While eating fast every now and then is not a crime against humanity, these types of food contain trans fats and are not intended to nourish the body.
That’s not to say you have to give up bread and pasta, and alcohol consumption entirely! A helping of fruits and vegetables for every meal ought to be a good first step.
Now that you’re spending a lot of time indoors, getting acquainted with your kitchen sounds like a great idea. Cooking has also been linked to therapeutic effects. It helps the mind focus on the task at hand and relax in the rhythm of measuring, cutting, and cooking.
Simple recipes are all over the internet and you can whip up a quick meal during your lunch break.
A healthy lifestyle does not mean depriving yourself of delicious food. Instead, it is being more conscious of what you put in your body. Saturated fats aren’t the enemy but you can lessen your daily intake of them.
Replacing high-sugar carbs with fiber-rich ones instead, like brown rice, makes a difference. Take it slow and easy so you can maintain the diet in the long run.
Take Energy-Boosting Supplements
Nursing a terrible headache from the eyestrain of staring into your computer all day? Having trouble sleeping or losing weight from not eating right? Maybe the fatigue is catching up to you.
Taking breaks is beneficial on its own, but a little pick-me-upper couldn’t hurt. Nope, not another cup of your favorite caffeine fix. Supplements — not just any, but mood-boosting supplements!
Instead of opting for your usual over-the-counter painkiller, give gentle alternative remedies a go. Considering, of course, that you don’t replace your prescription medication with these.
Supplements are only meant to support the body, hence the name, but not heal it. It can be a simple cup of tea or essential oils used as topicals or in aromatherapy
Take cannabidiol (CBD), for example, a rising trend in healthy lifestyle discourse. It is one of the most popular health supplements right, and with good reason. It promotes balance in both the body and the mind.
From migraines, body pains, sleeping problems, anxiety, nausea, weight loss, to a boost in mood and energy, CBD’s got you.
You can take your pick of tinctures, softgel capsules, topicals, candies, and even pet treats for your furry friends. Consider which works well for you, do your research on the best CBD brands, and give it a whirl.
Partner this with other healthy practices and you’ll surely feel tons more energized for whatever the day has in store!
Keep a Clean Space
They say cleanliness is next to godliness. There is nothing more to bring out a positive attitude when you’re surrounded by fresh, clean, and breathable space. Keeping a clean workspace in your work from home setting can make you feel more organized.
Not to mention, the process of decluttering and cleaning is somehow soothing if you do it at your own pace
Above all, maintaining a clean space is important to keep germs, bacteria, and viruses from multiplying all around you. A healthy lifestyle entails good hygiene, both personal and social.
You could also opt for more open space and natural light if you’re sitting behind a desk the entire day. A window overlooking the lawn or backyard, if possible, should do nicely.
Keep your desk clean by disinfecting it before and after you clock in. Don’t forget to disinfect your gadgets too, including phones, laptops, keyboards, and everything else within arm’s reach. Now so more than ever, staying clean and hygienic is important to help lessen the risk of infection from the virus.
Plus, you can decorate while cleaning! Add a pot of plant or two for a pop of color on top of your work desk.
Maintain Physical Activity
While everyone is advised to stay indoors, going to the gym is highly discouraged. But this doesn’t mean you have to give up on regular exercise altogether.
30 minutes of cardio, sweating, and getting your blood pumping can only leave you feeling good. It could also help prevent future heart diseases and other health complications.
After all, the heart of a healthy lifestyle is a balance of good diet and exercise. Maintaining physical activity several times a week is good for cardiovascular health and boosts the immune system as well.
This is important as it helps the body fight off infections and keeps you strong and able. It doesn’t have to be intense either.
Stretching after more or less 8 hours of desk work is good. Walking around the neighborhood — with a mask and socially distancing from neighbors — is safe and a good way to stretch your legs. You can try yoga and pilates as well.
There are plenty of home videos readily available on social media to guide you. Even cleaning the house from top to bottom and doing chores could get your heart pumping. This way, you hit two birds with one stone!
Stay Connected with Friends and Family
Last on this list is certainly not the least. Physical health is important but emotional and mental wellbeing is just as vital in keeping good health and a healthy lifestyle. Quarantine and self-isolation could be required from you, but only in the physical means.
Thanks to this nifty little thing called smartphones, you can send a text or make a quick call to loved ones anytime
While it can’t compare to receiving a warm hug from a family or friend, a simple how are you could leave you feeling loved and cared for.
If you live alone, try scheduling group calls with your circle of friends over your own glasses of wine. Call up your parents and ask them about a family recipe you’ve been wanting to try
Bottom line is, everyone is having a hard time. The best we can do is be there for each other and see this through until things are better. You aren’t alone, and you don’t have to be. Everything is fumbling for stability in these daunting times.
There’s no better way to anchor yourself than seeking companionship with friends and family.
Final Thoughts
That was a load of health information. Hopefully, you read through until this last bit. While these are only tips, it is still up to you how you want to spend your time during this pandemic. A healthy lifestyle is well and good but if you find yourself needing a break, that’s alright as well
Moreover, we are in the middle of a global crisis. Not everyone can afford to live a healthy lifestyle as countless lives and jobs have been greatly affected. Taking simple but mindful steps is a great start. If you find yourself able to do more, go on.
The most important thing is to take care of yourself and your loved ones however you see fit.
Is CBD Legal? Hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal on the federal level. Moreover, these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and products that have not been FDA approved. Likewise, you must be at least 21 years old to purchase these products. Talk to your physician or medical doctor for additional information.
