Your overall health and well-being should be nothing less than a priority throughout the pandemic. Significant research has shown that COVID-19 has drastically impacted individuals, not just with their physical health but also emotional and mental health. Since the pandemic has provided feelings of isolation, stress, and lack of control, taking care of your well-being should be your first priority.
That said, here are some ways you can better prioritize your overall health and well-being during the pandemic:
1. Productivity
Productivity keeps you busy and when you’re busy doing any tasks of your choosing, this benefits your mental and physical health. It’s generally easier said than done, but leading a productive life has several benefits such as increased feelings of gratitude and happiness, stable mood and energy levels, as well as giving you something to look forward to each day. As everyone adjusts to this concept of a new normal, there’s a typical routine you’re faced with.
While this routine can get pretty dull, it helps you regain a sense of control. Keeping yourself busy, whether with exercise, work tasks, or even with a brand new hobby, can significantly increase feelings of happiness and hope during the pandemic. It gives you that sense of accomplishment that you did your tasks throughout the day.
2. Socialize
Speaking of isolation, it’s integral to your well-being to maintain socialization. Due to lock down and social distancing protocols, this is more challenging than it sounds. However, since the world has adapted to a digital transformation era, there are significant ways you can socialize today. For instance, there are social media chats, video calls, online conferences, virtual sessions, voice calls, online games, and the like.
There are various options to still socialize with others while still keeping yourself safe from the virus. You can also host virtual games, Netflix parties, and other ways of socializing. If you’re not into virtual socializing, there’s always the option of finding ways to hang out with the people you live with, whether that’s your family, friends, or even your neighbors.
3. Nutrition
Your eating habits also impact how you feel during the new normal. Maintaining a balanced diet of lean proteins, heart-healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates can help both your physical and mental health. Since the pandemic, there’s also been a rapid rise in the demand for supplements and vitamins. To keep you and your family healthy, it’s essential to take advantage of supplements. These can range from your normal vitamin C supplements, multivitamins to more targeted supplements like Collagen, Vitamin B+, or your ideal vaginal probiotic supplements.
These supplements all target different parts of your body, and they’re crucial to providing you with the nutrition and minerals you need. Also, supplements can increase your immune system and prevent you from getting sick during such uncertain times. Particularly if either you or your family are working and you’re exposing yourself outdoors, it’s even more crucial to get your regular dose of supplements. Your health and well-being will eventually thank you for this in the long run.
4. Physical activity
You shouldn’t underestimate the significance of the role physical activity plays in both your mental and physical health. Exercise provides you with endorphins and dopamine and increases your mood and energy levels. Since it’s relatively easy to feel down during the lockdown, exercise can give you the boost of energy you need throughout the day.
This is also connected to the first point in this list, which is productivity. Exercise and productivity are connected in that you need the benefits of exercise to be productive. Most importantly, physical activity also benefits your cognitive functions such as memory, focus, and concentration. So if you find it difficult to focus lately, exercise can significantly help.
5. Stick to a routine
As we said earlier, sticking to a routine can give you the balance and control you need during the pandemic. Several individuals have struggled to gain a sense of control in their lives, which is why sticking to a routine can help. When the pandemic provides us with unexpected changes, a pattern can help us stay grounded in something static.
For some, a routine could consist of breakfast, meditation, exercise, and working. Your routine should be personalized to your needs and only your needs. Just remember that your routine shouldn’t feel like a chore, but they should be things you enjoy to fuel your day.
It’s now more crucial than ever to take care of yourself and the best way to do that is by incorporating a healthier lifestyle and building better habits. You will still have some off days, but these tips mentioned above can help you deal with your stressful days better.