It is easier than you might think to keep your body happy and healthy during the extended coronavirus lockdown.
Despite gyms being shut and social distancing regulations dictating that we can’t stray too far from our homes in these incredibly strange times, there are indeed a range of activities that you can do to keep your body and mind ticking over until we get the green light to resume a more robust workout schedule — and some of these things are easier to do than it may seem.
Our own health is our personal business at the moment. It is of tremendous importance to limit your daily movements and restrict any contact with people from outside your home, but it has perhaps never been as important as it is now to keep a close watch of your physical and mental health.
How do we do this? Below are some tips:
Take care of daily tasks
Many people are faced with a little more free time than usual these days so it is important to spend it wisely. The easy choice is to sink into the couch for an extended period — and this isn’t something that you should necessarily avoid — but it should be treated as a ‘reward’ and not the the norm. Spend some valuable time before that performing some daily tasks like cooking or cleaning before you clock out for the day. You will thank yourself later.
Working from home? Do it right
Legions of office employees now find themselves at home, dialling into work meetings via Zoom and converting spare rooms into temporary offices. Make sure that you still treat your day as you would any other. Shower and have breakfast before you open your laptop. Maybe even get in a quick run beforehand, so long as you are obeying the the restrictions that may have been placed upon you to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.
Also, be aware of your back. An extended period spent hunched over a computer can be made worse by using a chair which doesn’t provide the correct lumbar support. The last thing you want is to emerge from lockdown with back pain.
Get outdoors
Just because we have been told to restrict our movement doesn’t mean that you can’t outside, so long as you do so in a measured way. Get some fresh air, go for a walk or a bike ride but be wary of taking a route you know will put you in contact with crowds of people. Exercise if crucial for you cardiovascular health but also helps your muscles and joints, as well as easing stress, anxiety and depression.
Do the right exercises
Body weight exercises are important at the moment. Push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups and leg raises are just a handful of the techniques you can do at home with little or no equipment whatsoever. There are plenty of guides available on YouTube to put you through your paces.
Remember, when this is all said and done there won’t be a person out there who thinks to themselves that they did too much exercise. There will be plenty of people on the other side of that coin, however. Be kind to yourself.
