Whether or not you’re a super-health-conscious person under the best of conditions, keeping active and eating right may be more important now than ever. Yes, we should all be making these things a priority in general…but right now, it’s critical to keep healthy and well physically and emotionally.
For me, exercise is a non-negotiable part of my day (at least 5 or 6 days per week). As someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression for the better part of my life, I have found that keeping active makes a huge difference in my mental health (along with therapy and medication). I’m having a tough time right now, you guys. I won’t sugar-coat it and I want to be honest…being stuck at home with the world seemingly coming apart at the seams all around us, having Match and graduation festivities cancelled, and knowing that this pandemic will be such a defining part of my medical career is…a lot.
So. How can you keep well while you’re working from home and unable to socialize or go to a gym? These are some things that I’m doing right now to make sure my body is getting what it needs while also maintaining proper social distancing and doing my part to keep my community safe.
Get outside! You can (and should!) get out for a walk or a run if you can…just make sure you aren’t surrounded by people or huddling in groups. I happen to live on the W&OD trail outside of DC, and it’s a lifesaver right now because I can go hiking almost daily for an hour or two. My toddler can even come along with me in the stroller and we make occasional stops so he can play in the creek or run around. Spring is just around the corner, and even if nothing else seems to be going right, we have had some great weather. Enjoy it!
Strap on the Apple Watch (or any other activity tracker). I have a love-hate relationship with my Apple Watch (it’s a judgey little motherfucker…this is a conversation for another day). But since I’m stuck at home, I know that I have a really hard time maintaining a good baseline of physical activity. Setting up some reasonable goals to make sure I’m getting enough steps every day, standing for a few minutes every hour, and getting enough sleep has so far gone a long way to keeping me off my butt.
Take advantage of some deals on fitness apps. I’ve never been a huge fitness app or YouTube person, but…desperate times. There are tons of deals right now as companies offer discounts and free trials in response to COVID-19. I just downloaded the yoga app Down Dog and am actually pretty impressed with it. Here’s a list of other apps, channels, and in-home fitness options you can check out!
Keep busy inside. When I’m at school or working at the hospital, I’m up and about all day long. At home, not so much. Even if you’re seemingly tied to your Web Cam all day long, make sure you’re taking frequent breaks—even for a minute or two—to get up and walk around. I’ve been using breaks as a chance to take care of a lot of little chores that always seem to get away from me, like wiping down countertops, putting my kid’s toys away, and de-junking for a Goodwill run, etc.
Eat well. OK, I get it…the world is falling apart and it’s really hard to get excited about eating a salad. I completely agree—this is NOT a time to try and lose those last 5 or 10 pounds. However, this IS a time to make sure you’re getting your fruits and veggies, keeping the empty carbs and sugary stuff to a minimum, and drinking a ton of water. A healthy diet is imperative to keeping your immunity up and keeping you feeling your best.
Sleep! I know, I know…getting enough sleep is…hard. But just like eating well and exercising, keeping well rested is critical to keeping you physically and mentally healthy ESPECIALLY when the risk of infectious illness is high. If you’re working from home, take advantage of not having to commute! Sleep in a little bit. Let your kids sleep in a bit. Head to bed a little earlier. Steal a mid-day nap. Do what you have to do to steal a few extra minutes. Your body and mind will thank you forever.
I swear I never meant for this little blog to turn into the Coronavirus Channel. I sincerely just wanted to have an outlet to gab about things I like and some medical topics while finishing medical school and starting residency. But…here we are, under a national emergency with a global pandemic that has had an impact on every single one of us by now. We all have to do our part to keep our families and communities healthy and flatten the curve, but we have to take care of ourselves, too. I hope some of these ideas help, and please let me know what you’re doing to keep yourself healthy and sane!
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