The pandemic affected the health of people even if they were not infected by the virus. Many people felt anxious about the uncertainty of the situation. Those who had to work from home found it challenging to exercise due to their limited options at home.
The sedentary lifestyle saw many people gaining weight and increased the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Despite this situation, people can challenge themselves to do better. And with an improved situation over a year after the pandemic started, people can start getting back into shape even before the health crisis is over.
Give Yourself a Break
The stress of the pandemic can take its toll on anybody, and even the healthiest people can become complacent when they are ordered to stay home for weeks on end. Some even feel anxious or depressed, which can affect their physical health. The virus is unprecedented as it spread worldwide within months after it infected the first patient.
At this point, you should forgive yourself if you weren’t able to prepare for the health crisis. You should remember that no one expected the virus to spread so fast, and it caught everyone off guard. Instead of thinking about the uncertainty of the situation, you should focus on getting back on your feet and working to maintain your health.
And the availability of the vaccine has made everything better. It allowed people to start traveling again. While you might be trying to get back to your old routine, you should remember that the pandemic is not yet over. This is particularly true with the emergence of new variants of the virus. So, you should avoid being complacent and still follow health protocols.
Develop an Exercise Plan
Creating an exercise plan is a good way to keep yourself fit during a health crisis. Even if you are wary about exercising in the gym, you have several workout options at home or in the neighborhood. You can walk or jog around the neighborhood. But you need to make sure to follow health protocols when you go out of the house. If you live in an apartment with several floors, you can use the stairs instead of the elevator.
You can also perform pushups and sit-ups in the house. Buying a dumbbell allows you to perform other strength exercises in the comfort of your home. If you haven’t exercised for a long time, you should take it slow. You can start with 10 repetitions for each exercise and increase it once the exercise becomes easier.
Aside from exercising, you should also watch your diet. If you do not manage your diet, it will be more challenging for you to reach your ideal fitness level. You can also ask a reliable dietitian to help you with your meal plan. The dietitian can provide you with a list of food you can eat before and after you exercise. He can even prepare a meal plan for the whole week, if necessary.
Start a Sleeping Routine
A good diet and an exercise routine are not enough to keep you healthy during a health crisis. You also need to have a regular sleep routine. People’s anxiety when the pandemic started might have affected their sleeping patterns, and they found themselves not getting enough rest every day.
When you get enough rest, you can maintain a healthy weight, improve your mood, and reduce the risk of serious health issues, such as heart disease and diabetes. Most adults require at least eight hours of sleep each night. This allows them to become well-rested to tackle all their tasks the following day.
So, you should try to work out a sleeping routine to allow you to have enough rest at the end of the day. If you tend to get up early in the morning, you should also sleep early at night. You should aim for at least seven to eight hours of sleep every day. To facilitate this, you should avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol late in the afternoon. If necessary, consult a doctor if you have a sleep disorder.
Connect with Loved Ones
If you live alone, you should try to get in touch with your family and friends every once in a while. Staying connected with them helps your mental health and sense of well-being. They can also support you while you are working on keeping yourself fit during the pandemic. Additionally, seeing a familiar face or hearing their voice considerably affects a person’s mood and can lift their spirits despite the current situation.
The surge in cases makes it necessary for people to take care of their health and well-being while staying at home.
