When you have spent months cooped up in your home, your mental and emotional well-being takes a beating. If you have shifted to working from home and quarantining yourself away from the public eye, you may also have fallen into the habit of focusing less on caring for yourself.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, interacting with the community is an important part of your mental health; on the other hand, you may be apprehensive about venturing into public again if you have shut yourself away for a while.
GymRa wants to help you be fit and healthy. If you are still working on building up your physical and emotional confidence after enduring a long stint alone at home, use these five tips to look and feel better faster.
Increase Your Water Intake
It is essential to drink water every day, and yet many people fail to get the minimum recommended amount. Increasing your water intake helps oxygen flow and skin appearance. It aids in joint lubrication, making it easier to move around. Drink more water for more limber joints and a clearer complexion. Try keeping an insulated cup with you so your water stays cool and you can sip it throughout the day.
Add Fiber to Your Diet
As Precision Nutrition explains, fiber helps you feel fuller, which means you are likely to eat less between meals if you make sure to add fiber. You can do this easily by adding flaxseed, chia seeds or even hemp seeds to your favorite foods. Bell peppers and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli are great sources of fiber.
Incorporate an Exercise Routine
You do not have to do very much to add some exercise to your day. One of the easiest ways is to purchase a smartwatch to track your movements and set goals. While it is not required to work out, it is useful for tracking your daily activity and motivating you to be healthier, and some watches even allow you to take calls.
Another motivator is to purchase new workout gear. Throwing on garments like worn out, threadbare T’s can make you feel just as tired as your outfit. Something stylish, comfortable and flattering can be just the thing to spark your energy and enthusiasm for a fitness regimen.
If you are shifting into a routine after no exercise, be patient with yourself and start small. Go on a short walk or a bike ride a few minutes a day, and increase the duration from there. Eventually, you will be able to work up to tougher cardio workouts and more.
Socialize With Friends
One of the great things that has come out of 2020 is the explosion of video calls and meetings. This technology allows you to interact with others while remaining safe at home when your health is at risk. However, personal and physical connection is also still important. According to one study, maintaining strong friendships can have a positive impact on your overall health. When all else fails, chatting with friends and family over a video call may help boost your mood. If possible, try to meet up with friends in person for coffee, a meal or just a brief visit each week.
Turn In Earlier
Like water, quality sleep is essential for your health. The National Sleep Foundation suggests seven to nine hours of sleep is the optimum amount of sleep for adults or up to eight hours for older adults. There are also benefits to turning in early, including lowering the risk of disease and heart problems and improving memory and sleep quality.
Skipping showers and staying in your pajamas all day may seem like a perk to staying home more, but it can also add to feeling unwell overall. You can boost your mood and your appearance by conscientiously drinking more water, eating more fiber, adding exercise, connecting with friends and hitting the sack earlier.
Change takes time, so revel in the small successes and start out small. Mastering these five tips now can lead you to greater changes and boosts in wellness sooner than you think. And be sure to include GymRa’s gear and workout videos in your regimen!
