Ways to stay healthy at home

When you’re cooped up during quarantine, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With a focus on your body, mind and soul you can come out the other end of this even healthier than when you entered.

Your body

With some forward planning, it’s perfectly possible to keep your body healthy during quarantine. Of course, the combination of diet and exercise is the key here, but that doesn’t mean you have to restrict yourself. In terms of diet, the key is getting your daily vitamins. Make sure you get at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day and remember, the more colors on your plate, the better, because that means that you’re getting a good spread across vitamins. You might also want to take a vitamin supplement during this period, as unfortunately your sun intake is likely to be limited by spending most of the day indoors. And don’t worry about snacking left right and centre, that’s totally normal in such anxious times, just be sure to snack on healthy foods like carrot sticks, nuts or other veggies if you can.

When it comes to exercise, some is always better than none at all. There are plenty of HIIT workouts, yoga classes and other videos available on Youtube. It can be difficult to motivate yourself in times such as this, which is why local NYC gyms such as Blink Fitness have started regular free group training sessions so you can feel connected to others from the comfort of your own home. If you’re not a gym bunny, this can all seem a bit overwhelming, but simply throwing on your headphones and blaring Whitney Houston in your ears while you dance like crazy around the room is also exercise (and let’s face it, it’s pretty darn fun)--so get creative with your exercise and go easy on the self-judgment.

Your mind

We need to both contract and relax your mind like a muscle to keep it healthy. To keep yourself thinking straight, it’s important to have a focus, whether that’s work or if you’re not currently working, then some other way to stretch your mind, such as learning a new skill or reading. The New York Public Library allows New Yorkers to sign up for a library card online and you can start borrowing ebooks right away.

But don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be productive during quarantine. You’ve also got to let your mind relax during this trying time. Try doing something fun which has been on your bucket list, like watching that list of best movies of all time or downloading The Sims in classic 90s nostalgia. Now more than ever is the time to indulge in your guilty pleasures--no one will ever know if you watch Disney on repeat or learn all the words to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” with this time! It’s also good to keep in contact with at least a small number of friends or family during quarantine; although you can’t spend your whole day replying to everyone, the human contact you get from video calling or simply texting others will give your mental health a boost in these trying times.

Your soul

It’s also key to keep your soul healthy during quarantine. Self-care is an underrated part of keeping ourselves healthy and now is the perfect time to fix that. Self-care means looking after yourself just as you would a friend, instead of beating yourself up, setting unrealistically high expectations of yourself or just generally being mean to yourself. If you wouldn't do it to a friend, don't do it to yourself. Knowing your worth and that you are loved by others is easier said than done, of course, but you can take simple steps towards wellbeing through self-care practices such as engaging in a favorite hobby (even when you have a work deadline!), turning your phone off when you’re stressed, treating yourself in whatever way works best for you (think facemasks, your favourite desserts, or buying that top on ASOS you’ve been staring at since the beginning of quarantine!)

For some people, spiritual activities such as yoga can be beneficial for your wellbeing, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it that way if the "traditional" forms of self-care don't suit you. Self-care comes in many forms--even allowing yourself to cry can be healing. The important thing is to look inside yourself and think deeply about what you need to feel good during quarantine and to do it without feelings of guilt. And remember, being healthy on the outside comes from within.