Keeping Fit and Healthy during a crisis

Community 3 min read

06 Apr 2020

Staying fit and healthy during a crisis is something which can make or break your experience. It is important to remember that everyone deals with things differently and so what works for some may not work for others.

As the effective lockdown on the island of Ireland continues, restrictions on what you can do and where you can go are in place for all our safety. Exercising is almost the only thing left for you to do that doesn’t involve queuing into a supermarket while keeping adequate distance from others.

By weathering this one out, we can come out the other side as champions in our own right. But how do you keep fit and healthy in body and in mind? Read on to find out!
 

Sleep:

We’ll start off with probably the most important tip of them all. Never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. Being well rested will set you up for a day full of productivity. But always remember that everyone is different. Recommended hours of sleep vary from any source you take a look at. Anxiety and stress can have an effect on your sleeping pattern. And in the present climate, stress and anxiety are probably messing with your sleep. Check out the HSE & NHS websites, who have guidelines on getting a healthy sleep and what to do if you can’t. You’ll find the HSE information here and the NHS information here. 

 
Healthy Diet:

With all this new found time on our hands, now is the time to try out new recipes. Eating healthy goes hand in hand with a good night’s sleep. Eating healthy will help your body function to the best of its ability. As well as fuel from healthy food, drinking water is essential. Keeping hydrated will keep your body and mind in tip top shape. A number of celebrity chefs have taken to social media to share some of their recipes while we are all stuck at home. Irish chef Neven Maguire shares dishes everyday across his social media channels, which are suited to all the family. His step by step guides allow you to cook healthy dishes with simple ingredients. You can check out his recipes here. 
 

Exercise:

It’s important to keep moving, wherever you find yourself. Being required to stay at home sometimes allows us to get into a routine of a bottomless Netflix pit. As with everything, small doses of all activities go a long way. Getting out for a walk, whether it’s within your 2km radius or simply up and down your back garden, all makes a difference. If you’re looking for a more gym based workout, there is a huge bank of personal trainers taking to social media to share workouts that you can do in your home. If you’re used to being part of a team and find it hard to get motivated on your own, team gym sessions over video call will keep the routine of training in your life. It also gives you a chance of a new kind of social interaction. Exercises for all the family come from the self-titled “Body Coach”, Joe Wicks. Wicks runs a P.E. lesson every morning at 9am for all those stuck at home school. You’ll find his workouts here
 

Minding your mind:

While all of the above will help to keep you suitably sane, the reality is there will be some tough days. In most of our lifetimes, this global pandemic is a first. And it is important to remember that we won’t know the right thing to do straight away. Keeping your mind healthy is probably the most important exercise of them all. While sleep, eating and exercising will help you with this, it is important keep on top of your mental health. Social media is a playground for mindfulness techniques and mediation apps. If you have a Spotify account there are numerous podcasts to help you take control of your mind and your thoughts. Apart from mediation and mindfulness, don’t forget to talk. Never underestimate the power of a phone call or video chat with friends. 
 
Keeping fit and healthy in body and in mind will help you to get through this time. Working together by staying apart is the new normal for the meantime. It is important that you don’t get too consumed by what others are apparently doing via social media. Do what you can in your own way and we’ll be back to normal in no time!