Spending more time at home throughout the Covid pandemic has been both a blessing and a curse – not least for our personal wellness.
With the stresses of home and work life all under one roof, finding time for you can be tricky. To help, here are five easy tips for practising wellness at home.
1. Maintain a routine – having a regular routine can make a huge difference to helping you feel productive and creating positive habits. Organising and compartmentalising your life is essential for staying happy and maintaining a sense of fulfilment.
Your daily routine influences many aspects of day-to-day life, from your energy levels and performance, to your mental capacity, bedtime habits and emotional wellbeing. It can also support personal security and comfort, helping you feel more in control of your time.
2. Switch off – working from home has made it difficult to separate work and home life, meaning many have struggled to switch off. At the end of the working day, it’s important to decompress and take time for yourself; otherwise, stress, anxiety and exhaustion can creep in.
Set alerts to remind you when it’s time to close that laptop, and try to work in the same space where possible to prevent your work life from infringing on your home. If you really struggle to switch off, consider using browser plugins that block certain sites and applications at designated times throughout the day.
3. Monitor your diet – during the first Covid lockdown, it was reported there was a rise in stress eating and poor dietary choices, reputedly triggered by mounting stress and changing routines. A good diet is one of the pillars of personal wellness, so consider what you eat and make simple changes where needed.
From checking portion sizes to leaving the sugary snacks at the supermarket, there are plenty of ways to improve your diet to support your overall wellbeing. Keeping a food diary is a great way to monitor your diet, so you can start to understand the foods that make you feel good and those that cause a slump.
4. Improve your sleep – never underestimate the power of a good night’s rest. Sleep can improve your health, your mood, and your general wellbeing, so aim for a minimum of six hours a night.
To promote healthy sleep, avoid sugary foods late in the evening, don’t take your phone to bed, and try switch-off techniques such as meditation to encourage a healthy night’s shuteye. Exercising regularly can also encourage a good night’s rest, so try to elevate your heart rate for at least 30 minutes each day.
5. Look after your body – looking after your body and feeling physically good can have a great impact on your mental state. Staying fit and active is, of course, a must, while simple things like improving posture can also make a surprisingly big difference to your general wellbeing.
Unsure how to improve your posture? The Spa & Health Club Manager of The Mere, Martin Davies, has provided some advice:
“Working from home may have its benefits, but good posture isn’t one of them. Months of answering emails and attending zoom calls from dining tables, sofas and beds has left many with new back, neck and shoulder issues, raising questions about the long-term suitability of home working.
Thankfully, there are ways to maintain posture while working from home – steps which can have a positive impact on your general health and wellbeing.
First, a good chair is crucial. There’s a reason office-specific chairs are used in the workplace, as they’re designed to support your lower back and prevent slouching while you’re sat for long periods.
Also, think about how you’re sat from time to time throughout the day. There are apps that can remind you to check your posture every couple of hours or so, and they can be a helpful way to stretch, take a break or adjust your position when you’re in the zone.
As well as adjusting your work setup, it’s good to know the signs of bad posture. Symptoms vary broadly from person to person, but typical warning signs include aches and pains, stiff back, neck and shoulders, and other symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, and a general feeling of malaise.
Away from work, there are lots of things you can do to improve your posture and support general good health. Exercising regularly will strengthen your core which makes it much easier to maintain a healthy posture. Even things like ordering a new mattress and pillows to make sure you’re well supported at night can make all the difference in how your body responds throughout the day
