While it’s important to make external activities – like going to the gym or joining a sports club – a key part of your health and fitness regime, there’s no doubt that the foundations of a healthy lifestyle are built at home. In this blog post, we look at different aspects of your health that can be improved without stepping beyond your front door.
Let's examine 3 great methods
Getting better sleep
After a bad night’s sleep, you may notice you become more irritable, or find it harder to concentrate on your daily tasks. But the effects of poor sleep health over a prolonged period of time can be far more severe. Both your physical and mental health can be adversely affected by not getting enough regular sleep, with research suggesting you’re more prone to develop chronic diseases and conditions.
If you know that your sleep health is an area that needs improving, fortunately there are lots of things you can do to start working on forming a healthier nighttime routine. First, start by reviewing your environment. Are you watching TV or scrolling on your phone late at night? Is the room you sleep in often too hot or too cold? Is there any noise or light you’re having to contend with? All of these things can make it harder for us to drift off and stay asleep throughout the night, so review your sleep hygiene to ensure your environment is conducive to a good night’s rest.
Another way to start improving your sleep is to try and establish a more consistent bedtime routine. While this can be difficult for some people to achieve due to work rotations or other life commitments, if you’re able, going to sleep and waking up at similar times each day will help to regulate your body’s circadian rhythm, leading to fuller, better nights’ sleep.
Enhancing your WFH setup
When working from home, it’s easy for our physical and mental health to suffer and unhealthy habits can quickly take over. It can be all too easy to work from your bed or sofa, but this isn’t conducive to a healthy working lifestyle.
One of the most important aspects of managing your health while working from home is having a good, supportive setup, which means having proper furniture in place. Be sure to invest in an ergonomic chair that supports your back, neck and shoulders, as well as a desk which can be adjusted to sit at the recommended height. You may also find an additional monitor, mouse and keyboard helpful in staving off any aches and pains throughout the working day.
On top of creating a proper office, you can further enhance your health at home by getting your heart rate up with a little exercise during the working week. The pandemic gave rise to more opportunities for virtual exercise, whether that’s with a guided live-streamed class or a recorded tutorial you can do at any time. There are lots of benefits to engaging in virtual exercise, and often you can do it with very little or no equipment at all.
Don’t neglect your mental health
As well as taking care of your physical health, it’s just as important to manage your mental wellbeing, and there are lots of simple methods to enhance this crucial aspect of your health from the comfort of your home.
While it won’t be for everyone, there are many potential benefits to be had from practicing mindfulness, and making it a regular part of your daily routine. Using mindfulness techniques can help to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, on top of being a great stress reliever. Another widely regarded technique to help manage mental wellbeing is to find a creative outlet away from your professional responsibilities. Whether you start writing a journal, try your hand at painting or learn to play a new instrument, there are so many advantages for your mental health to expressing yourself in a creative way.
When our mental health is in a good state, it becomes easier to look after our physical welfare as well. And remember, there are so many avenues for support if you do find yourself struggling, whether you use online forums or seek professional, tailored help. You may find it easier and more convenient to speak to someone online rather than face to face – utilize the technology you have access to at home to start making positive changes in your life
Author bio: James Moore is a freelance digital content creator who specializes in health and wellbeing topics. In his spare time, he runs his own personal training business and loves to inspire his clients to make positive lifestyle changes.
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