6 Top tips to surviving this lock down and staying healthy

We have done it before, so we can do it again …sound familiar? With the news that we are back in lockdown in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and now New Zealand, it’s a fact that this will be a blow to many people while we try to eradicate this latest outbreak of Covid-19.

As much as learning Tik Tok dances, baking copious amounts of banana bread and watching the Tiger King got us through the last few lockdowns, it was still difficult.

In the below article, we will discuss a few top tips to keeping healthy, both mentally and physically through this time. Obviously, we are all having different experiences right now so some tips may not be appropriate to all. But hopefully there are some useful takeaways:

Embrace the outdoors and nature

Layer up and try to get outside even when it’s still a little cold. If working from home, take advantage of the lack of commute and use this extra time to go for a quick walk before work. Fresh air can give you a real boost in energy and try to take the opportunity to notice and enjoy your surroundings. Just remain social distanced and take a mask if needed.

When you are feeling demotivated, going for a refreshing walk may be just what you need to ease your nerves and re-awaken your mind.

Blast some of your favourite music.

Lockdown can be for some an overwhelming situation, which leads to our minds going into overdrive and concluding the worst possible outcome. A great recommendation to distract your ‘monkey mind’ is to create a playlist of all your favourite tunes and play to when you are feeling down or anxious. It is clinically proven that music can lift moods almost instantly.

Maintain a balanced diet:

This is a hard one, as when we are stressed, we all tend to stress eat. This is amplified when going to the supermarket, being presented with all the tasty treats and will I say it, ‘Panic buying’ these. Being at home mixed with the inevitable boredom of lockdown, the temptation to eat badly is very high. If you can, force yourself to avoid the ‘comfort food’ aisles and focus on buying foods that will give you energy and boost your immune system.

Do an online workout!

Now, the internet is absolutely saturated with different workouts you can do. There is something for everyone. Les Mills have a fantastic online workout programme filled with so many classes. Even better, everyone can sign up for a 2 week free trial to start their journey. Mental health is just as important as physical health.

Facetime and pick up the phone

Staying home can make us feel isolated, but even though we can’t plan a coffee date with a friend or two, I recommend planning it via zoom or Facetime. It’s so easy and as much as it’s not the exact same as meeting in person, it certainly fills the gap of loneliness and brings a lot of joy to a bad situation. Friday night catch up’s can still be a thing – even digital quiz nights are brilliant. For once don’t hate your smartphone and use it for it’s brilliant benefits.

Take time to focus on your breath

Lastly, mental health is just as important as physical health. The way that we breathe can, at times, be unnoticeably rapid, especially during stressful situations. Simply becoming aware of this and choosing to practice conscious breathwork can greatly reduce your stress levels.

The best practice is ensuring that the length of your exhalation becomes just as long, or slightly longer than your inhalation. Start by placing your hands on your heart and breathe in for 6 seconds and breathe out for 6 seconds. Repeat this breathing cycle for one minute and continue on if you desire. You will be amazed how much this small change can help lower your levels of stress, anxiety and make you feel much calmer.

Have questions? Please connect with the team now so we can give you extra tips and tricks if you are struggling with your fitness journey.