Initially I thought it is harder to stay healthy in a pandemic. In the beginning I was very fearful and for the first 10 days did not leave the house. We weren’t being very active at all. But for everyone’s mental health it was important to venture out of the house in a safe controlled way. Getting outdoors on long walks and bike rides helped improve our fitness levels.

Eat Well

I have found a tendency to reach for the wrong foods in lockdown. Treating myself with far too many cakes, takeaways and even having afternoon tea delivered, all in the name of lifting spirits in a pandemic! Instead we should be aiming to look at exciting ways to get our five a day.

Smoothies are always a good place to start, my boys seem to enjoy drinking them. Plus, they can be quite refreshing in the heat if you cram your blender with ice to go with the fruit!

When we see junk food as a reward it does become more addictive and harder to break the habit. Furthermore, as obesity is linked to more health problems now really is the time to try and curb your cravings and make better choices.

Stress Levels

Stress levels can raise when your juggling home-schooling, working, and living with the constant worry that lingers during a pandemic. Fear and anxiety soon take their toll on your wellbeing. Try not to focus on the unknown just do what you can to keep safe. Make sure you wash your hands, continue to social distance whenever possible and invest in masks to wear. These stress busters will help you feel better in a pandemic.

Make sure your active, even if its only running around your garden, make time for your own needs (harder said when the kids have been off school forever!) and give yourself challenges. I think we have all binged too much on Netflix throughout the pandemic and we need to find new challenges instead. Perhaps you could learn a language, take up a new hobby or complete some puzzles.

Smoking

According to this article in Vitality Magazine more people are starting to smoke during the pandemic. Factors include loneliness, stress, and boredom. Probably now more than ever its important to look after your lungs. Some people try to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking which the NHS say is far less harmful than smoking. I would say if you can go cold turkey all the better, but if not then it might be worthwhile using e-cigarettes to help you quit. Perhaps try picking up a vape starter kit and seeing how you get on. Personally, I would not visit a vape store unless it was part of a well thought out strategy to quit smoking.

Sleep

Our sleep patterns have been impacted by the pandemic. In lockdown alarms were off and many were not getting enough fresh air to help them sleep. Apparently its best to avoid napping to make up for late nights otherwise you just compound the problem. Make sure you spend time outdoors each day and ease off the junk food in the evening or the extra sugar will fire up your body when it should be settling down to sleep. A good night’s sleep also boosts your immune system, so its vital you prioritise getting a decent sleep. These tips might help improve your sleep quality.

Exercise

If you have been shielding there are still plenty of indoor exercise you can do. Put on an exercise video, dance to your favourite music, or invest in a rowing machine. I really want to get one! If you have a garden, make the most of it with outdoor games with your family and doing the gardening together. We were fortunate to be locked down in a rural location so spent long hours walking once we braved leaving the garden after day 10! Exercise helps boost your immune system, so you are in a better position to fight viruses.