Statista has found distinct changes in our lifestyle patterns. We are staying at home more often. We are shopping online and avoiding public transport, amongst other things. These trends all tie in with wanting to stay healthy and fit for any eventuality.
“Health is the greatest gift”.
Buddha
Learning to live in a new way has been a change for most of us. It is finding the balance between being safe and living our lives as normal. Here are four easy things you can adopt into your life to keep your life going in a healthy and positive direction.
1. Stay Healthy by Walking Every Day
I love walking.
It is a free, low-intensity exercise that pretty much anybody can do. You don’t need any special equipment apart from a decent pair of trainers.
Grab a bottle of water, and you’re good to go.
Power walk, stroll or take lots of breaks. Whatever way you prefer to walk, as Nike says, “Just do it!”
You can choose how long you want to walk, how regular, and how far. Nothing is set in stone, and you don’t have a class teacher monitoring you.
“Walking is man’s best medicine”.
Hippocrates
This article from Harvard Medical School has a useful Walking Calorie Counter. You can calculate how many calories you can lose, depending on how far you walk.
It is a wonderful form of exercise that can be exactly as you want it to be. You are in control. If you’re not walking already, start with 15 minutes each day and build it up.
Suppose you end up being in lockdown or curfew again. You can always try one of the many walking videos on YouTube.
2. Know Your Body Mass Index
Your Body Mass Index or BMI is a handy indicator to know if you have a healthy weight for your height. It is an estimate of your body fat.
You can check your current BMI with this BMI Calculator from Medical News Today. It should only be a guide, so you can see if your weight is healthy or not.
Sometimes it can be the prompt you need to make you think about what you are eating and exercising enough.
“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude”.
Oprah Winfrey
Choosing healthier food to eat can be a great start to reducing your BMI. On the other hand, if your BMI is very low, and you find it hard to gain weight. You can seek professional advice from your doctor on how to handle it.
3. Stay Healthy By Sleeping More
Sleeping is one of my favourite pastimes. Snuggling up in your own bed can feel like paradise. I wake up feeling refreshed, ready for the day ahead.
According to the American Psychological Association, sleep “allows our brains to recharge and our bodies to rest”.
But not everybody can find sleep so easy.
Sleep Cycle found that only 28% of people worldwide get a good eight hours of sleep regularly. Also, the worst sleep quality is in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, respectively.
“The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep”.
E. Joseph Cossman
Sleep is important, and it is our time to switch off and relax. View it as an important aspect of your life, and if you have to, “schedule” it in your diary.
Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep, even if you have to go to bed early. If you don’t manage to get your 8 hours, take a little nap during the day to give yourself a boost.
4. Smile More
Staying healthy and fit is a lot easier when it feels like something enjoyable. When we enjoy something, we smile.
Psychologists at the University of Tennessee have found that facial expressions can impact on people’s feelings, “smiling makes people feel happier”.
So next time you are doing something, anything to stay healthy, remember to smile. Imagine the feeling after a nice long walk or the feeling of success when you lose some weight. Smile to your heart’s content.
Also, don’t keep your smiles to yourself.
Smile with everybody, you see. You will start to notice what a difference a smile can make to you and someone else.
“It’s hard not to feel happy when you make someone smile”.
Roy T. Bennett
Takeaways
Everybody wants to stay healthy right now. Finding ways that match with our new lifestyles can be challenging. Try out the four ideas detailed above and see if they can improve your life. You won’t know unless you try them, and they could bring more quality to your life.
Don’t forget to care and share this article with your colleagues, family, and friends. I wish you all a healthy 2020 and beyond! Best, Sally
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Sally Leslie is a motivational coach and optimist. She helps freelancers and entrepreneurs create balance in their lives and work towards their personal and professional goals. Sally is also a B2B freelance writer for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and startups. A lover of plants, freedom, and football!
