With our lives dramatically changing “overnight”, from keeping ourselves healthy being a self-care to an absolute necessity. Today, improving our immunity and fitness supersedes others.
I have been obese for most of my life until 3 months ago when going to the gym finally started giving results. And then like a nightmare, all gyms shut and you had to stay at home. And I am sure many of you as well find it hard keeping in shape. Truth is we can’t control this pandemic. But keeping ourselves healthy is surely under our control. So here I am with 7 strategies to be fit during the lockdown.
1. Keeping your mind active
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This article is not forcing you to halt your Work From Home(WFH) and have a perfect physique. Instead, it’s about relaxing your mind and taking a break from WFH for a second. Your brain is the most important muscle in your body. And so it needs more care now than ever. Here are a few tips you can use to be mentally active.
1. Try meditating in the morning to carry positive and calm mind into the rest of the day.
2. Create a soothing atmosphere during the WFH. It may be light music, scented candles or a clean workspace.
3. Try to take fresh air during the day as more oxygen makes your brain more efficient and healthy.
2. Keeping your body active
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We have always run from household activities, but it is the best way to be active and simultaneously keep your house clean.
Adding up exercises to your daily routine is crucial to keep the body moving. Here are 4 basic benefits you gain from it.
1. Improves blood flow and memory
2. Enhances learning skills
3. Improves mood and thinking skills
4. Reduces the odds of heart disease and diabetes.
Still, finding it difficult to start without equipment? Some of the exercises you can start at home with no equipment include-
1. Upper-body push-ups
2. Squats
3. lunges
4. Planks/side planks
Set a timer for 20-40 minutes and do as many rounds as possible. These simple yet effective exercises will keep body and mind active.
3. Keeping your social life active
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While we are maintaining social distance, I don’t find any point why we can’t still be close. And having face-to-face interactions is of prime importance for mental health. Try to harness the power of technology to stay in touch with your friends and family. Being in contact with people close to us in a lockdown helps us remind that we’re all still connected.
Here I provide you with a link to see how else social life impacts our health.
4. Feed your stomach with something healthy
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Foods rich in vitamins and minerals like iron and zinc helps in lifting our mood by releasing serotonin and dopamine. A lot of green, leafy vegetables, as well as poultry products, helps combat depression.
Go through the link below to find more secrets about how food increases our health.
5. Breathe the right way
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As we're exposed to more stress we tend to breathe fast. But if you can learn to breathe slowly, you can reduce the effect of stress and cope better. Breathe in and out a little more (which stimulates your relaxation response). Try to inhale for four seconds and exhale for six, until you feel better.
6. Plan out Each Day
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Without goals in life, we tend to become clueless, dissatisfied and even depressed. Writing a daily plan or “To-Do list” every morning will give you focus, a constructive path to follow and thus help you feel happier and more satisfied.
Your list may include: work, chores, exercising, reading, calling a friend and so on. And if you cannot complete your goals someday, at least you had a direction and that’s more important.
7. A good night sleep
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A good night of sleep helps our bodies repair its cells, clear toxins, merge our memories, and process information. Sleep deprivation may impact us affecting our psychological and emotional health negatively. Try having 6 to 9 hours of sound sleep every night. It not only keeps you healthy but also makes you feel fresh, energetic and active each morning.
These simple strategies will not only keep you active but will also keep your spirits high and will fill you with feel-good vibes. So tell me in the comment section how you are keeping yourself fit in this lockdown.
Truly said and nicely written !! Keeping oneself Healthy inside out is mandate now!! Appreciate 👍