How to Stay Healthy in Self-Isolation

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How to Stay Healthy in Self-Isolation

Did you know that popcorn sales rose by almost 50% in America at the start of the lockdown? Plus, crisp sales were up by 30%, according to Nielsen data.

We’re all overindulging, which, honestly, is perfectly okay right now. We’re in the middle of a pandemic, so if eating popcorn while binging Netflix is going to relieve some stress, you should definitely do it! And, despite the consensus that you should be in peak physical health right now, or that you should be being productive 24/7, it’s actually a really tough time to get things off the ground right now. So, if you make it out of this pandemic safe and healthy, then that’s what’s important.

However, if you’re feeling a bit fed up of being stuck inside, you’re not alone. We’re all feeling a bit worse for wear recently, with quarantine having a huge impact on our day-to-day life. You might be feeling debilitated, sluggish and lethargic due to recent circumstances.

Whether you’re moving less, getting fewer hours out in nature, staying up later than usual, or simply indulging more in comfort foods, feeling stagnant is likely to take its toll. 

It doesn’t take a full-on lifestyle overhaul to make some impactful changes to how you’re feeling. So, we’ve put together some tried and tested ways to get yourself back on your feet.

If you’re looking to feel more energetic, improve your wellbeing or just generally feel a bit better while staying at home, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some simple lifestyle changes you can make to start to feel more like yourself again.

Boost your immune system

Paying attention to your immune system is more important than ever. It’s vital to make sure you’re getting a healthy dose of daily vitamins, and eating foods that are beneficial to your wellbeing. This’ll not only lead to feeling better on the day-to-day, but your body will be in better shape to fight against unwanted diseases.

It may seem pretty obvious, but eating a diet full of fruits and vegetables is your best best to improving immune responses. Experts recommend a diet high in vitamin C, so try adding broccoli, oranges, peppers, strawberries and tomatoes to your diet to see some benefits. Simply having an orange with your daily breakfast can be helpful. However, if you suspect you may be deficient in some essential vitamins, Harvard recommends taking a daily multivitamin.

The British Hearth Foundation recommends using what’s already in your cupboard, such as tins of beans, lentils and pulses. These are great for adding protein and heart-healthy fibre to your diet.

Have specific mealtimes (and snack times!)

Your usual mealtimes have probably gone out of the window recently, but this can actually lead to poorer wellbeing. Studies have shown that people who eat at random times every day have higher blood pressure and BMIs than those with scheduled mealtimes.

By scheduling in your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks, you create a positive daily routine. You’ll have something to look forward to, as well as prevent excess snacking (which is easily done when we’re all watching way more TV than usual!).

So, set yourself some rough mealtimes to work towards, like having your breakfast between 7-8am. This way you’re more mindful of when you’re eating, which will cut down on overindulging.

Just remember that this doesn’t have to be perfect, and you shouldn’t beat yourself up if things go off-track. If you have your breakfast a bit later on one day, or just fancy an extra bedtime snack on a Friday night, that’s perfectly okay. It’s just something to aim for.

Work on your circulation

Your circulation might be the last thing on your mind at the minute, but keeping your blood moving is important for your overall wellbeing. Good circulation encourages effective carrying of oxygen and essential nutrients to all cells around the body, and rids waste products and carbon dioxide in the veins. For our overall wellbeing, keeping blood flowing is vital.

Sadly, we’re all sitting down a heck of a lot more at the moment, so your circulation may not be preforming at it’s best. Luckily, there are a few simple things you can do while in lockdown to keep your circulation healthy.

One of the easiest ways to improve your blood flow is to get up and about every hour. Spending just 1-2 minutes walking around your home or garden, moving your legs and arms, is certain to get things moving. Doing 10-minutes of daily stretching is also a sure way of avoiding stiff joints and improving circulation. 

Try an online trainer

If you’re feeling like you want to get fitter, but you don’t know where to start, then it might be worth working with a trainer. Personal trainers are experts in staying fit and healthy, even in isolation, so talking to someone who knows more than you do can be a major helping hand.

Here at The Fitness Truck, we’re always striving to educate, enthuse and entertain our clients, so reach out to us if you have any concerns on how to get a little bit fitter. We’ll always point you in the right direction, whether that’s training with us or trying an alternate form of fitness.

Have an accountability partner

As we’ve mentioned before on our blog, keeping active with others has major benefits. You’re more likely to stick to goals if there’s someone else doing them with you, so having an accountability partner is beneficial to stay healthy in self-isolation. Plus, research has found that those who took part in a group workout had better mental and physical wellbeing than those who did it alone, so keeping healthy with others may just be more beneficial.

As Entrepreneur.com suggests, it’s best to choose someone who will be brutally honest with you. This way you’ll know for sure if you’re slipping off track. Set clear goals between you, and you’ll both be sure to get where you want to be.

The increase in the amount of time we’re spending at home can lead to poor consequences for our wellbeing. We’re all aware of the negative effects of being sedentary, but it can be frustrating when this inactivity is out of our hands. And, even though lockdown isn’t going to last forever, these effects can still creep up on us. Keeping healthy in this time is important, so keep these tips in mind while social distancing.

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