In a post-COVID-19 pandemic world, many of us have continued to work remotely, study away from the campus, and maintain social distance with people. There were some definite benefits from our time in the pandemic shut down, but we need some of the habits developed during the pandemic to not travel back into regular life with us.
But as we remain in our homes or at our desks, we start to live sedentary lifestyles of excessive sitting and eating. The pandemic even led some people to experience stress, depression, and anxiety. Because of this, there’s a good chance that some have gained and thus now carry more permanent weight. This has caused the development of various health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Fortunately, you don’t have to resign yourself to this fate.
Four lifestyle practices that you can adopt to keep yourself physically and mentally healthy.
Eat nutritious meals
Whether you are now a permanent remote worker, a hybrid worker, or back in the office full time, any sedentary, desk lifestyle can prove troublesome for planning the rest of your day or week. Everyone’s lifestyle requires careful meal planning, whether that be meal preparation, or planning your grocery list, or setting aside time to cook your food every day. The prospect of healthy eating and a well-balanced diet might sound daunting, especially to those who have grown accustomed to consuming less healthy alternatives, but it’s not as hard as you might think. After all, you don’t need to eliminate entire food groups from your eating equation. A good starting point for a healthy lifestyle is incorporate good portions of fruits and vegetables into your meals while lowering your meat products and junk food consumption.
There has been an increase in house delivery ordering services such as, Postmates, Uber Eats and DoorDash, due to the pandemic. This enables people to get fast food delivered directly to their home from any restaurant they choose, which is both unhealthy for your body and hurts your wallet. With prices rising everywhere, replacing, or limiting your ordering or eating out and making healthy meals yourself instead will make both your wallet and your body happier.
Manage your stress
Stress is normal, and we all experience it. However, too much stress and extended, heightened anxiety can be more detrimental to your health than people realize. Therefore, it’s crucial that you find ways to cope with this emotional and mental strain. For starters, you’ll want to make sure that you organize a daily schedule for your work so that you don’t risk burning yourself out. Make sure to establish a work/life balance so work doesn’t consume your personal time. There are also wellness products like essential oils, organic CBD, or Vitamin D supplements that can potentially promote relaxation and allow you to manage your stressors better. If these don’t help and your stress or anxiety feels consistently out of control, please talk to a doctor or a therapist.
Stay physically active
One of the challenges of living a sedentary lifestyle and sitting for long periods is getting enough exercise. However, you must engage in daily physical activity because our bodies aren’t built to survive living sedentary lifestyles. The good news is that there are many ways to keep yourself active. If you like to stay home, at-home workout programs are perfect for ensuring you stay physically active. If you don’t like workouts at home, the world has started to open back up and gyms are a fantastic option. Finding specialized gyms that concentrate on fun exercise that you would enjoy is the best way to incorporate movement into your lifestyle. If inside exercise isn’t for you, the roads are open, so going on a walk or run in the beautiful outdoors is a great way to soak in some Vitamin D and get some exercise. Choosing to take care of yourself and taking care of your body will increase its longevity and give you a sense of ownership and pride over your routine and lifestyle.
Reduce screen and sitting time
Having a regular workout routine is essential, but even exercise won’t immunize you from sedentary time. Even if you engage in physical activities, you’ll still be susceptible to heart disease and diabetes if you spend too much time sitting down. You’ll also damage your vision if you don’t rest your eyes from the computer from time to time. If you are working with screens for hours every day, blue light glasses might be worth an investment as blue-light causes eye strain and over-stimulation. For this reason, you must reduce your screen and sitting time to protect your eyes as well as your heart.
Conclusion
Contrary to popular belief, staying in great shape, and giving yourself more physical and mental space doesn’t have to be complicated. Set aside time to care for yourself by exercising, cooking healthy meals, managing your stress, and taking screen breaks. By adopting these healthy lifestyle practices, you will be able to function optimally, fulfill your daily responsibilities with ease, and avoid a whole host of health conditions in the process.
References
The pandemic boosted food delivery companies. Soon they may face a reality check | CNN Business
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