For most of us, the change in lifestyle brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t exactly been the most healthy of changes.
A lot of the errands we would traditionally do on foot and by car have been reduced to sitting in one place using a phone or computer. Our food can be delivered by a few clicks & swipes, and with a little more typing & clicking, we can write our business emails or join our conference calls, all from the comfort of a couch or a bed, and pajamas we haven’t changed out of in a week (well, hopefully not a full week).
If not all, then most of the gyms were closed in lockdowns and when they reopened, we (most of us) are still hesitant to work out at them. For the few of us who have exceptional motivation, we decided to run outside, and lift heavy items inside…for the rest of us, we decided to once again sit on the couch and scroll through our phones or tv screens to find a new binge-worthy tv show.
For the sake of our health, we need “simple” more than ever. And though simple is hardly ever truly simple, here are five “simple” tips to help you and your family stay healthy through this time of uncertainty.
Create a structure by restructuring your space
- This means don’t work, eat, and sleep all in one place (your bed or couch)…Instead keep a designated space within your home for work, a space to eat, a space to exercise, a space to unwind, and a space to sleep.
Limit technology and use it to your advantage
- Limit the time you spend on social media apps and news. Give yourself 15 minutes to half an hour to catch up on the news, then stop. Same with social media.
- Learn a new hobby, trade, or skill by using popular video apps like youtube.
Do more exercise
- You don’t necessarily need equipment to stay in shape. Even 15-20 minutes of an at-home cardio workout can do wonders for one’s health. (If you don’t have a starting point, youtube can save you once again)
Learn new recipes
- It is easy to order food with all the takeout and delivery options now available to us. Meals at home are usually healthier than meals from outside, and with internet access, you have access to thousands upon thousands of healthy and fresh recipes. I suggest trying recipes from around the world, be confident with it, there is no need to be humble inside your own home. Try something you know is out of what you think is your ability and see what happens! Even if you mess up, the next time you will get better.
Take time off to relax, and enjoy the small things, mindfully.
- Relaxation rejuvenates one’s self and decreases one’s anxiety. But relaxation does not mean sit down and use your phone mindlessly for an hour. Try making it a habit to do a relaxing thing and make an event out of it. For example, this may mean making a cup of tea and some snacks and sitting by a window. Or read a book…or paint…or do anything that you enjoy doing that does not involve a phone or the tv. (If you want to get crazy with it, try drinking a cup of tea and reading a book).
Syed Shoaib Z Shah MD
Chief Executive Officer, Salaam Clinic
