How to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle in Self-Isolation
Things are pretty crazy right now. No matter where in the world you are, your life has almost definitely been altered, and we just don’t know if/when life will return to normal. For now, our routines are turned upside down and we’re just trying to make sense of the days and determine how worried we should really be.
When life feels unpredictable, it can be totally natural for us to abandon our healthy habits and dig into some more comforting behaviors, such as watching TV day and night and eating food that makes us feel less than stellar. While I think it’s perfectly fine to relax a little more while we’re stuck at home (I think most of us could probably use the R&R), I want to encourage you to continue to take care of yourself during this time. If there’s ever a time when supporting your health is paramount, it’s during a pandemic.
Things are feeling pretty surreal and foggy right now, so I wanted to offer some clear and manageable tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle during self-isolation:
1. Move. your. body. Most likely, if you’re working from home like I am (and don’t have small children running around), you’re spending most of the day on your butt. Any movement you would have gotten during your commute to work (e.g., walking to the train, walking to the office, even walking into the building from your car) has ceased temporarily. Moreover, your gym is probably closed, so you may be thinking you don’t have many options for exercise. While it’s true that our options for movement may be more limited, it’s really important for us to prioritize daily movement.
If you’re not under a shelter in place order, take advantage of the warmer weather by going for a walk, run, bike ride, or hike! After being cooped up all day, it feels amazing to get outside, feel the sunshine on your face, and breathe some fresh air.
If spending time outside is not possible for you right now, you can still get your movement inside—even in a tiny apartment with minimal to no equipment and a tiny budget. Lots of online fitness programs are so eager to support you during this time that they’re offering their at-home programs at a discount:
Fitnessblender is offering 70% off four of their fantastic programs (discounted at $4.50 each). Scroll down to the bottom of the home page to see them. If you’re not interested in following a program, you can always do their hundreds of free workout videos, and there are plenty that you can do with just your bodyweight.
Paleomg is offering $20 off her new at-home fitness program (discounted at $49.99). The program includes 12 weeks of workouts, each of which is under an hour. You will need some dumbbells, kettlebells, and loop bands to complete the program.
The Tone it Up app is free for 30 days for new members, and this is what I’m currently doing! If you have Apple TV, you can cast the videos to your TV. Some workouts do require some minimal equipment, such as small weights or resistance bands.
Blogilates has created a “14-Day Quarantine Workout Plan”, which is free on her website. If you head over to her instagram @blogilates, Cassy is sharing demo videos of the exercises. She has tons of free and fun workout videos that require little to no equipment. If you’re looking for a mood boost right now, this is a great option!
2. Continue to eat healthy foods. I know the situation is changing rapidly, but as of today, many of us still have access to some fresh foods. While I have stocked up on canned soups and Banza pasta in case things become more dire, I’m trying to take advantage of the fact that I’m still able to find some fresh vegetables and fruit, and I’m eating tons of salads and smoothies while I can. Basically, I’m trying to continue eating my normal diet until I am unable to do so, because I know which foods help me feel my best and I want to feel my best now more than ever.
Meat has been very hard to find in my area, and I know that’s true in other places as well. If your store is out of meat, one option is to order frozen meat (and seafood!) from Thrive Market! Know that there is a shipping delay of 10+ days right now due to demand. Another great option is US Wellness Meats, which has a large variety of meats, though they also have a similar shipping delay.
Some of you may be considering doing a Whole30 right now, or had committed to an April Whole30 and are debating whether to move forward with the program. If you’re trying to decide whether this would be the best choice for you currently, check out this Dear Melissa post!
3. Hydrate. I normally drink a lot of water, but when I’m off my routine, I tend to drink way less, so I have to really stay on top of it and mentally track how much water I’ve had each day. If you’re looking for an immune-boosting beverage, try out my recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth!
4. Get some extra sleep. You know you need it! Many of us were sleep-deprived before all of this happened, but now we have a little extra time to care for ourselves. Don’t stay up half the night binge watching Love Is Blind— trust me, Jessica is not going to improve, and you need your sleep to stay healthy and happy.
5. Meditate. There is a lot of uncertainty around this virus, and a lot of us are feeling some anxiety right now (myself included). There are plenty of free guided meditations on Spotify and apps such as Insight Timer. Even a few minutes of deep breathing can really help. It took me many years before I was willing to commit to a meditation practice and now I don’t think I will ever go a day without it. Try it consistently for a week or so and I can almost guarantee you will see the benefits!
We have a lot going on right now and a lot on our minds, so don’t think you have to implement all of these ideas at once or commit to them 100%! If anything, this is a reminder that, in uncertain and challenging times, it’s more important than ever to take care of yourself. This is not a time to neglect yourself and let your healthy habits fall by the wayside. Let’s commit now to nourishing ourselves to the best of our abilities in our current circumstances. We will get through this!
If you have other ideas for maintaining healthy habits during self-isolation, share them in the comments below!