Health Tips: How To Keep Your Body And Mind Healthy While On Lockdown

Updated on May 25, 2020

Being locked indoors all day and night can be tough on both your body and mind. With limited social contact, lack of exciting outdoor activities, and no evening meals with friends to look forward to, people are finding it difficult to cope with being stuck inside.

Along with the debilitating effect of the lockdown on mental health, the forced isolation is also taking its toll on our bodies due to a lack of spirited physical exercise. With trips to the gym, sports, or even a nice evening stroll now more difficult than ever, your body is far more sedentary and inactive than it usually is.

However, this doesn’t have to be the case as there are many excellent ideas you can consider to remain healthy. Below are some of our favorite tips and tricks to help you maintain immaculate physical and mental health.

Exercise Each Day

Your body is evolutionarily accustomed to sweating frequently. Therefore, being inactive for many days at a stretch wreaks havoc on your system. Lack of exercise also leads to elevated levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, which a hard workout can help to reduce. Ideally, you like to engage in strenuous exercise to maximize the health benefits, but even a brisk walk out in the sunshine can do wonders for your physical and mental health. 

Some regimes permit a daily exercise period when you can go outside. However, there are countries that won’t allow you to leave your home because of the COVID-19 crisis. If you’re housebound, follow home exercise videos online and make a workout space in your home to complete your daily exercise quota. Calisthenic practices are particularly useful as they rely on utilizing your own body weight, removing the need for specialized fitness equipment.

Stress Release Practices

Stress is surely building up inside you because of the lockdown. There are a number of practices you can follow to help release stress and tension from the body. If you aren’t able to get outdoors for a walk or a jog, consider trying out something new to keep yourself in shape. Thankfully, there are plenty of instructors online capable of teaching wonderful practices such as yoga and meditation.

Yoga is a fantastic way to release tension and can bring a whole host of mental benefits including increased clarity, calmness and self-awareness. Other great ways to reduce stress include breathing exercises, taking CBD products like Nibbana CBD, or exploring mindfulness and meditation practices to soothe the mind.

Lockdown Concept During Global Coronavirus Pandemic Concept

Avoid Alcohol

Having a drink or two each evening might seem like an appealing thing to reduce boredom and stress. However, drinking will do more harm than good in the long run. Regular alcohol consumption can interfere with your sleep, leading to more tiredness the next day. This will increase the chance of feeling stressed and anxious. Additionally, alcohol can weaken your immune system, which you surely need as strong as possible during this pandemic.

Stick To Healthy Eating

It’s so tempting to dump yourself in front of the television and tuck into a delicious sugary snack during these testing times. Unfortunately, this will only diminish your wellbeing as your body is denied important nutrients and you suffer from an inevitable sugar crash. Healthy eating is more important than ever today because of the global pandemic. Not only will healthy eating keep your immune system up and running, but it can also help negate the effects of the sedentary lifestyle which people are forced into. A nutritionally complete diet can help you glow with energy and significantly improve your mental wellbeing.

Don’t Slack On Sleep

Sleep is such an important part of our overall health and must not be underestimated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Insufficient sleep can lead to all kinds of mental and physical problems including increased stress, weakened immune system and fatigue. It’s recommended that you get at least 7 hours of sleep each night, preferably a bit more if you’re a long sleeper. Make sure you stick to a regular sleeping schedule and maintain a desirable sleeping environment. You should darken your bedroom and shut out all noise so that you can sleep better.

Conclusion

Although being trapped inside for weeks on end can be distressing, there’s no need to despair if you work hard to get your mind and body active. Anyone can keep himself or herself in great physical shape, even without a home gym. Practices like yoga and calisthenics can help physically and mentally, especially because you can get coaching online. Avoid too much alcohol and stick to healthy eating. Always make it a point to get a good night’s sleep. Even without many of the basic things in life such as socializing, dining out and shopping, the lockdown can still be an enriching experience. You can reprioritize your life and find meaning in the simple things. 

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