Since the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic, many factors have impacted public health. Mental health cases dramatically rose, while some other varying diseases declined. According to News Medical Life Sciences, infectious diseases such as influenza have decreased due to social distancing.
But there are many other ways in which we can continue to improve our health at home during the pandemic, both mentally and physically.
1. Regular Exercise
Getting regular exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your health. The pandemic kept many people out of gyms and fitness clubs. Luckily, this prompted many people to turn towards virtual fitness, which meant more opportunities to get healthy while staying safe.
You can now get a personal trainer without having to go to the gym! With online fitness coaching, you can have someone train and hold you accountable right from your home.
2. Take a Breather from The News
With our phones always readily available in our pockets, content is always being pushed into our faces. Unfortunately, many stories we read or videos we watch about the news tend to be negative. While yes, it’s important to stay informed of what is going on, there is a level of healthy boundaries you can set up for yourself.
Take a breather from watching or reading the news every once in a while to maintain your stress levels. You can do this by putting your phone away an hour before bed or by following more positive accounts on social media to bring good news into your feed.
3. Continue Your Education
In order to maintain good mental health, we have to stimulate our minds. Continuing education is a great way to do that. With online masterclasses or virtual schools, we all now have the ability to enhance our skills on our own schedule. As an added bonus, taking classes gives you a sense of community and provides a human connection. This is crucial for maintaining balanced mental health.
4. Get Outside More
Just because we are in a pandemic and need social distance doesn’t mean we can’t go outside. Whether you want to go for a run or take a long walk for some vitamin D, being outdoors can do wonders for both your physical and mental health.
5. Join Virtual Support Groups
The pandemic caused a significant increase in the number of people who began experiencing signs of depression, anxiety, and other mental health-related issues. It’s more important than ever to maintain human connection.
Virtual support groups are available for people from all various walks of life. It’s a great way to stay connected and find encouragement with like-minded people going through similar issues.
6. Limit Your Alcohol and Drug Intake
An unfortunate repercussion of the global pandemic was a substantial increase in alcohol and marijuana purchases. People were searching for ways to cope with unprecedented times and began leaning heavily into unhealthy vices. It’s important to acknowledge when it has become a problem and to limit or completely remove alcohol and drugs from your life.
7. Look For Ways to Eat Healthier
Many people have found themselves needing to cook inside rather than go out to eat when bars and restaurants shut down. While the future is looking up as more places are open again, it gave us all an opportunity to see what our eating habits were actually like.
Staying healthy is also about what you put into your body. Using this time at home can mean trying out new healthy recipes that are balanced with protein, fruits, and vegetables. Try to avoid “stress snacking” and swap items like chips for carrots or cookies for yogurt.
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted global health for so many people. The above seven ways are just a start for how you can stay ahead during even the most difficult times. It’s about making your physical and mental health a priority instead of letting it fall to the backburner.
If you need extra help, contact your doctor or a local therapist to be able to make a plan that is best for you. Remember, you never have to go through hard times alone.
