For months now we have been encouraged, and in some cases actually required, to stay at home to slow the spread of COVID-19. Ironically, in the course of trying to stay healthy, many of us have given in to the temptations of takeout, Netflix, and the soft, comfortable couch.
But now, it’s time to take your health back under control, and not just when it comes to exercise. To keep yourself really healthy, you need to focus on fitness, food, and your mental/emotional state. To take care of all of these aspects:
Turn Part of Your Home into a Gym
If you have the option of transforming your garage, a spare room, or other part of your home into a dedicated workout space, that’s great. But if you don’t have a lot of space to spare, you could still have the opportunity to at least temporarily “borrow” space for exercise.
The living room is a great option, in that it’s often the biggest room of the home and would allow for the greatest range of motion. And you can follow along with an exercise routine on the TV. You can borrow a bedroom to work out when you want a little more privacy. Or you can take your workout mat to the patio, and try some yoga al fresco.
Try More Healthy Cooking
Fresh fruit and vegetables are still readily available this time of year at grocery stores and farmers markets or stands. Not to mention organic eggs, dairy products, fresh seafood, and so on. So, in-between supporting your local restaurants with the occasional take-out or delivery, take this time at home to try new things—with healthy ingredients—in the kitchen.
With a little extra time on your hands at home, you can try experimenting with new flavors and ingredients you don’t typically use. This can also be a great opportunity to get the whole family involved, and spend some quality time together while inventing a new family meal.
Get Away…at Home
Always being at home can easily lead to a feeling of being trapped, which can have a crushing effect on your emotional and mental state. But only if you let it. To keep from going stir crazy, it’s important to provide yourself with some form of escape.
As long as you’re prepared to practice adequate social distancing, you can get out of the house, at least for a little while. Get in the car and go for a long drive. Find a quiet hiking trail somewhere and get some fresh air.
Or, the escape can be just in your own mind. Turn off the news, and stay away from social media for a while. Read that book that everyone’s been talking about. Take up knitting or some other hobby. Try meditating to calm and focus your mind.
It doesn’t have to take a whole lot of effort. With just a few small changes, you can be well on your way back to healthy: your mind and body, inside and out.
Feature photo by Mariia Korneeva
