How To Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle During Lockdown

In times of crisis and confusion, it can be easy to slip into poor habits, neglecting well-established healthy living routines. Maintaining a balanced lifestyle helps your mind and body, leaving you better able to cope with the challenges of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

Maintaining a healthy immune system is more critical than ever before. Here, we offer you some  tips about how to sustain a balanced lifestyle at this very difficult time:

Eat regularly and a balanced diet

Most of us understand the importance of eating a healthy, balanced diet to maintain good physical health, but the benefits of eating in such a manner are vastly underestimated when it comes to emotional and mental health. Eating a diet that follows the worldwide accepted guidelines, including a minimum of five portions of fruit and vegetables a day will give you a boost of energy to get through the monotony of the day and face any challenges that are inevitably thrown your way.

When you are at home for long periods of time and are bored, it can be tempting to reach for the comfort foods, which are quite often packed with sugar and everything that is not good for you. Once in a while, that’s fine – after all, we all need a treat once in a while – but to try to limit them as much as possible. Believe us, your body and mind will thank you for it in the long run. Sugary foods cause a big high before sending your energy levels crashing down, which can leave you feeling worse than ever. 

It is also important to eat regular meals and avoid skipping meals. When out of your regular routine, it can be easy to miss a meal or grab a snack instead to keep you going, but sitting down and eating a proper meal at proper times will keep your body working at it’s very best.

Keep active

Ok, so your usual gyms and fitness classes might be closed for the time being, and we have no idea when they will be up and running as they were prior to the pandemic, but that does not mean you can’t work on your fitness levels during the coronavirus lockdown. In fact, if you are not working, you might have more time than ever to build up a fitness routine. It just takes a little bit more creativity. Go for a socially distanced run around the block, take a jump rope into the back yard, or set up your own assault course and try to beat your time each day. 

If indoor exercising is more your thing, fear not, because there is still plenty you can do in the comfort of your own home. Dig out that old exercise bike from the garage, clear some space and look online. There are plenty of workout videos on YouTube and other resources to follow, such as a Lebron James workout plan, as well as things like online dance classes and tutorials to have a bit of fun with! 

Staying active does not necessarily mean that you have to take part in specific exercise sessions wither. A good walk, a cycle along the river, a kitchen disco, a bit of gardening – those are all great ways of getting some physical activity into your day without making time or doing anything specific.

The endorphins that your body releases during exercise are ‘feel-good’ hormones, so while it might feel like a bit of a drag to get up and motivated to do it, you will thank yourself for it afterwards when you feel great!

Stay hydrated

Our bodies are made up of water, so it should come as no surprise that staying hydrated is essential. However, far too many of us are not drinking anywhere near enough water. Really, when you are feeling thirsty, you are already starting to show signs of dehydration, so build sipping on some water into your everyday routine.

Drinking water not only stops you from being dehydrated but helps you to maintain a healthy weight, helps to aid digestion and maintain energy levels. 

Ideally, you should be drinking six to eight glasses of water every day. If you are not a fan of plain water, you can jazz it up a bit by adding things like fruit – lemon, lime, strawberries and even cucumber can give a lovely taste and make it more palatable. You could also experiment with ginger and mint, which have the added benefit of being great for the digestive system as well. While fruit juices and smoothies are great in that they not only count as part of your daily fluid intake, but they also make up part of your fruit and vegetable intake, it is important to remember that the sugar and calorie content can be unexpectedly high. They are fine – in moderation.

Sleep well

Being out of our regular routine also throws out our sleep patterns. We might think nothing of sitting up all night binging on that latest must-watch Netflix show and then sleeping in late, but that’s really bad for our bodies if we do it too often. It has so many knock-on effects – it causes us to be tired and lethargic, so we are less likely to be motivated to exercise. We are more likely to grab convenience or comfort food which is not necessarily the most nutritious, and it can play havoc with our mental health.

As far as possible, stick to a regular sleep routine. Try to go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning.

If you are struggling to sleep, try cutting out caffeine after lunchtime and try drinking a warm, milky drink before bed. Some people find a spot of gentle exercise or fresh air helpful, so a leisurely evening stroll can be beneficial, while others like to relax with a book or a hot bath. Avoid using screens though; put down the phone and iPad at least an hour before you intend to go to bed.

Keep a close  eye on your mental health

It is essential to focus on not just your physical health but your mental health as well. Many people have been left feeling lonely and isolated because of lockdown restrictions, and if this is you, reach out. Whether it is a friend or relative that you trust or a professional who can help you work through any difficulties, it doesn’t matter. Just remember that a problem shared is a problem halved, and it really can make all the difference.

There are other things you can do too. While eating well and keeping fit and implementing a strict sleep routine will make a difference, so will things like mindfulness and meditation. These will help you to clear your mind and focus on what is important in life. This doesn’t need any fancy resources – just a few minutes out of your day and somewhere where you can get peace and quiet, but there are also apps and YouTube videos and podcasts and books to help you. You can even get mindfulness coloring books, which are surprisingly helpful.

Lockdown and the coronavirus pandemic have taken a lot out of many people, both physically and emotionally. However, there are things that we can do to make it just a little bit easier on ourselves and our loved ones. 

Credit for free-to-use-photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels CC0 License