As everything now centers on home, keeping it a healthy place is a must. It’s the first order of business. Think about it. Your company likely mandates you to work from home to mitigate the ill effects of the virus. That’s one. Your kids also have their e-schooling from home. That’s two. And as everyone is grounded in response to the rapid spread of COVID-19, the home has ultimately become the center of your ever-dilating universe.
Think of your home as your castle. You must strengthen it to repulse any foreign invasion. And at the top of these threats is the virus. Don’t take it lightly. Already, over 500,000 Americans have succumbed to it.
Thus, it makes sense that you should ensure your precious abode is as healthy as can be. You owe it to yourself and to everyone in the family to make it so. Luckily, there are things you can do to make it happen. Here are some recommended by the best experts in the field.
Stay Active
It may sound counterintuitive but staying active has its merits now more than ever. It’s true; the gyms are still closed. But there are tons of safe alternatives to being active without having to go against any government-mandated protocol.
For one, aerobics is a go-to exercise you can do right at home. What’s more, hundreds of workout-from-home apps are available which can give you timely guidance on how to get your cardio and exercise going. Even better, you can have all this on your smartphone, making the device your online exercise guru.
Another key concept is avoiding the crowds is not tantamount to avoiding nature. Even better, you can enjoin the whole family getting active with you. Jogging or taking a brisk walk together in uncrowded areas should do you wonders.
Care for One Another
The home is an ideal place to spread love. And that starts with you caring for yourself. Support one another in times of need. As for yourself, make sure you free yourself of all the stress by taking on stress-relieving activities such as meditation and exercise.
These positive coping mechanisms should be of great help in dealing with stress. Additionally, you can develop a new hobby or learn a new skill that could help you advance in work, which you find important but had no time before.
Scheduling quality time with the family benefits everyone. It shows each person in the household that you care for them. If you want to explore more, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) has self-care tools by top psychologists that you can make the most of. Best of all, they’re free.
The warmth of home has also made in-home health care effective for close relatives suffering from life-threatening diseases during these times. Being surrounded by familiar faces of people gives the patient the best environment to recover. This way, health care professionals armed with proper medical training and the right tools can give needed medical attention regularly with greater efficacy.
Diet and Nutrition
There’s a good chance people will resort to “emotional eating” in times of stress. And there may not be a more stressful time than these days. With over 30 million Americans unemployed, the pandemic has brought untold sorrow to just about every family in the country.
Take note that emotional eating can lead to being overweight. In turn, obesity and being overweight, if unchecked, can lead to health complications. At the top of this list are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. At the last look, these are highly-degenerative diseases.
Worse, overweight people suffer the most compared to those with fairly the right weight regarding COVID-19 infections. Obese people succumb to the disease faster than those who are of the right weight. It’s just telling you that emotional eating has to be dealt with.
Knowing that making a habit of eating nutritious foods filled with antioxidants and minerals, such as green, leafy veggies, and fruits, is the way to go. They should be prioritized instead of taking on junk and processed foods that only serve to satisfy your hunger but not your body’s nutrient needs.
Staying Connected
When you take time to connect with loved ones and friends while remaining in isolation, you actually help reduce the burden of anxiety and loneliness bearing on you. The plethora of technologies (e.g., apps) available to you should help you get in touch with your inner circle.
With all the time in the world staying indoors, getting across shouldn’t be a problem. Think of it as a blessing in disguise. By reaching out to others, you actually increase your protection against the pangs of despair that accompanies stress and anxiety. It’s a win-win scenario to a long pressing problem. And one to benefit everyone in the home.
