The last year and a half has taught all of us the importance of our health. It’s also challenged us to stay well while also staying put in our homes for most of the time. Whether you’re at home by choice or because of COVID-19 restrictions, it’s important to keep your physical and mental health top of mind.
One silver lining of the pandemic is that it’s shown us new ways we all can stay healthy indoors. And contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t need to be an isolating experience. Now is the time to recruit your family and roommates to get onboard. After all, getting healthy together is more fun and makes it easier to stay accountable. Here are four ways to get and stay fit — both physically and mentally — without leaving your home.
1. Create a Healthy Morning Ritual
We’ve all woken up feeling rushed and frantic. We’ve grabbed sugary breakfast treats or drunk multiple cups of coffee before taking a sip of water. Beginning your day mindfully is a key way of staying healthy. Moreover, creating a morning routine can help establish healthy practices while you’re at home.
Your routine doesn’t need to be long, but it should be well-considered. Waking up with the sun, doing a breathing exercise to wake up, and jotting down your thoughts can all be parts of a mindful routine.
While you’re thinking of steps that should make up your routine, think about the things you must do daily. If you have young children, that may mean getting them ready for school or daycare. If you have a dog, you’ll need to let them out in the backyard.
If you need to take prescription meds, make sure to do so before the day gets ahead of you. If you aren’t comfortable going to the pharmacy right now or are unable to, don’t fret. According to Healthline, Nurx is an easy, efficient way to get prescriptions delivered to your door, with or without insurance.
2. Find Your Favorite Way to Move
We all know the importance of movement, but pacing around your kitchen to get in all your steps isn’t exactly fun. If you’re looking to be physically active at home, think about the types of movement you truly enjoy.
Do you like the feeling of being with others during a live class? If so, find an online alternative like Obé Fitness that offers live classes. Many studios now offer such classes via Zoom with a membership subscription. Smartphone apps are also widely available for live and on-demand classes. It’s expected that over 86 million U.S. users will be consuming health and fitness apps of some sort by next year.
If the idea of exercise per se is off-putting, challenge yourself to think of it as daily movement. You don’t have to strap yourself to a Peloton for 60 minutes to be fit.
Instead, seek opportunities to move throughout your day. Can you do some calf raises while brushing your teeth? Can you spend 10 minutes in the morning stretching to wake up your body? These activities are small, but they can add up throughout the day.
3. Nourish Your Body
Eating well is one of the best ways to stay healthy all year long. Prioritizing a diet full of whole foods instead of processed or sugary alternatives is a good start.
Best of all, eating well can be a fun family activity. Try a new recipe from your favorite social media influencer or celebrity chef. Or search for healthy versions of your traditional dinner favorites, such as vegetarian spaghetti Bolognese or seared fish tacos.
Because of the pandemic, many chain and local grocery stores now offer delivery free of charge with a minimum order. You can also schedule ahead so you’re never left unprepared around dinner time, scrambling to get something on the table.
As for those nights where you just can’t think about cooking, find a local restaurant that offers more nutritious foods. Your body will thank you in the short and long term!
4. Take Care of Your Mental Health
When you think of health and fitness, you likely think of your body. But mental and emotional health is a huge component of living a healthy life.
In today’s busy world, it can be challenging to find time for yourself. However, prioritizing some “you” time can be monumental for your well-being. It can ease stress and quiet your racing mind.
This time will look different for everyone, but it could include meditation, reading a book, journaling, or even having a cup of tea. These practices don’t necessarily take a lot of time, but they can help recharge your mind.
Keeping on top of your health at home is of utmost importance considering we’re all staying home a lot these days. No matter what your environment looks like, you can live a healthy life without opening your front door. Whether you are part of a larger family, living with roommates, or living solo, making healthy choices is easier than ever. And you can get started today with these four steps. You should learn from Geeks Health.
