Ty Howard
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Over 4 million cases in the United States, about 4 months of lockdowns and restrictions of varying degrees, this is the reality of living in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued several guidelines like social distancing and wearing face masks to help reduce the spread. So, while the world is battling the COVID-19 pandemic, how do we stay healthy?
Eat Healthy:
Feeding is a basic human process, however, the quality and quantity of the food we eat can go a long way to affect our health and well-being. It is noteworthy that there is an increased risk of obesity and excessive weight gain due to movement restrictions and having to work from home. The usual outdoor physical activities have been reduced, so the calories added from feeding have fewer avenues to be used up by the body.
A healthy diet should consist of fruits, vegetables, grains (e.g. rice, maize), legumes (e.g. beans) and animal protein (e.g. meat, milk, and eggs). Drinking clean water regularly to stay hydrated is important. Consumption of carbonated and sugary drinks should be reduced and replaced with drinking clean water as this will help prevent excessive intake of calories.
Relaxation and Sleep:
For one to maintain a healthy lifestyle, relaxation is important. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, working remotely from home has become more common. However, poor posture while working will put the body under stress and tension, with time this can lead to problems like neck pain & back pain. Therefore, it is imperative to keep an upright posture while working. Work tools such as the desktop or mobile devices should be placed at eye level to prevent having to assume a bent posture.
To avoid maintaining one posture for too long, take intermittent short breaks from work, to relax the muscles, and to improve blood circulation around the body. Listening to music or playing video games can also help relax the body. Adults should sleep for least 7 hours daily as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation.
Exercise:
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 30 minutes of mild to moderate intensity exercises for 5 days a week, while the CDC also encourages adults to exercise for about 4 hours a week. Exercises such as yoga, squats, leg lifts, stretches, weight lifts,etc can be done in the comfort of the home. Others like cycling and jogging are to be done outside of the home while adhering to all the CDC guidelines on COVID-19 prevention. Engaging in exercises helps to improve heart function, prevent certain ailments like obesity, and also the production of hormones (endorphins) that improve mood.
Mental Health:
Humans are social beings by nature, whether it's family or friends, we feel the need to connect with other people. With visitations being discouraged and places like schools still closed, chatting, voice and video calls are amongst the channels to stay in touch with other people. Also, religion can play a key role in the health of individuals. Therefore, involvement in religious activities either at home or in small groups outside of the home can be of aid to staying healthy. Seeking help for cases of depression is necessary.
Keeping a healthy lifestyle and boosting the immune system of the body is crucial to surviving through this period of the COVID-19 pandemic. All the points stated in this article can assist to achieve just that. It takes a conscious effort to stay healthy and it must be given all the required attention.
Hi! What is one strategy you use to get and stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic? Feel free to share your effective strategy by commenting below. Help our readers to learn and grow more on this topic. Thank you in advance for sharing.
About the Author: Ty Howard,
Founder, CEO and Editor in Chief of MOTIVATION magazine
Ty Howard is an organizational development consultant and executive and manager development coach. He's an internationally recognized authority on personal, professional, relationships and success habits development. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked Untie the Knots® Process, and the author of the best-selling book Untie the Knots® That Tie Up Your Life: A Practical Guide to Freeing Yourself from Toxic Habits, Choices, People, and Relationships, as well as dozens of published articles on relationships, healthy habits development, empowerment and peak performance worldwide.
For information on the author, click on the following link: Ty Howard.
Keeping a healthy lifestyle and boosting the immune system of the body is crucial to surviving through this period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Four practical ways to help you achieve this goal are:
1) Eat consistently healthy and drink the recommended daily amount of water.
2) Relax and sleep as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation.
3) Exercise regularly at home or in your neighbor while maintaining social distancing.
4) Take care of and support your mental health and stability. Seek professional advice and care from a doctor or therapist should things feel and get too overwhelming.
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