The COVID-19 pandemic has turned us all into couch potatoes for a few weeks now. While several people would rather stay inside anyway, this current lifestyle could last for months. As a result, staying home could become a chore rather than a restful period for everyone’s safety.
Not to mention, people are working from home, they’re away from the gym, and some of them can’t even go out for their daily walk. This sudden withdrawal from routine is enough to make anyone’s health levels, both physical and mental, drop to an extent.
Just because you’re stuck at home, it doesn’t mean you can’t take care of yourself the way you used to. Also, you’ll notice that you probably have more time to do the exact things you’ve been avoiding when your days were hectic. If you want your quarantine days to be worth it health-wise, keep reading.
Eat Healthily
You were so busy before this whole quarantine thing that you didn’t have time to sit down and enjoy a nutritious meal. Now, you most likely do.
Eating healthy foods isn’t all about dieting. Now more than ever, it’s time to keep your immunity strong. If you have the chance to go grocery shopping (responsibly, of course), get yourself a lot of fruits, veggies, nuts, and Google savory new recipes you can try. Try cutting down on caffeine and making immune-boosting teas, instead.
By the way, remember that water is as vital as any other nutrient you consume. Combine two daily liters of water with balanced meals and you’re good to go.
Get Moving
Times are especially frustrating for weight trainers who used to hit the gym every week. Not having available weights at home means they’ll need to improvise with what they have at home.
Don’t skip your daily training, even without gym equipment. Instead, fill a backpack with heavy books, lift a large bag of rice, fill up a bucket with cleaning products, and just do your thing. Ofcourse it’s not the same thing, but it’s better than not training at all. You could also increase the difficulty level of exercises and do more repetitions without any weights. However you choose to move your body, you’ll be boosting your immune response.
If you practice yoga or meditation, maybe things have stayed the same. If you don’t, it’s a great time to start.
Don’t Forget About the Sun
Not everyone is lucky enough to live in a house with a backyard pool. But the good news is that you can still get your daily amount of vitamin D from other places, even your apartment window.
It sounds like an unnecessary step, but it’s not. Yes, too much sunlight on the skin can be damaging, but moderate sun exposure is linked to bone health and may increase longevity. As little as ten minutes of unprotected exposure is enough to produce the needed amount of vitamin D every day. Your body will only produce this nutrient after contact with sunlight, so save a few minutes to just chill in the sun for a while.
Limit the News
It’s tempting to try and find out what’s going on in the world or when all of this is going to end. Sadly, you’ll find a lot of terrible news along the way. It’s always been this way.
If you’re the kind of person who just can’t sit still and let the situation unfold, get your information from trusted sources, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) update section about COVID-19. Don’t take everything people share or say seriously–remember this is the era of fake news. By ignoring loose information, you’re keeping your mind healthy and your body de-stressed.
Do Your Part
It’s comforting to know that a lot of people respect self-isolation–yet it’s disappointing to know there are people going out despite the recommendations. It might feel like the effort you’re doing isn’t worth it, but that’s untrue.
If one person stays home, she avoids passing the virus on to members of her family who could pass it on to more people, and so on. Not being able to control who goes out and who stays in is terrible, but know that you’re being a hero just by watching TV shows all day.
The purpose of quarantine is to protect you and your loved ones, not to make you bored. When this pandemic comes to an end, you’ll understand why being stuck at home was worth it.
