I think most of us thought we would be ‘back to normal’ as it’s now October, but for many, working from home, online meetings and even workouts is for the foreseeable.
The reality of this situatation is that we’re just not moving as much and sedentary jobs have become even more sedentary. Food and snacks are at hand and often used as a coping mechanism to manage stress and change in circumstances.
The result of this is either weight gain, lack of motivation to exercise, or both! Neither of which is helpful to the current climate.
Now is definitely the time to start rethinking how you’re going to get through the rest of the year healthy physically, mentally and emotionally, so to help you make a start, below are my top 5 tips.
- Start your day with some mindfulness practice for increased productivity and more resilience to stress triggers. The first 5 minutes after waking up, your brainwaves are in Alpha. Studies indicate Alpha brainwaves aid mental co-ordination, calmness and alertness. This means if you make time to meditate for just 5 minutes each morning, you’ll likely get more done in a day than if you didn’t.
- Set time aside at the beginning of your day to do some physical activity. If your day is busy, all the more reason to schedule in a minimum of 10 mins a day early on, otherwise there’s a liklihood you’ll not get around to doing it. Plus the natural release of endorphins will provide brain energy and uplift your mood.
- Strengthen your immune system. If there was ever a time to prioritise this, it’s now! Eating a diet with plently of fruit, vegetables and fibre will help your body fight off any nasties but you can always give it a helping hand by staying hydrated, reducing sugar intake, taking some good quality supplements and getting plenty of sleep.
- Get a stand up desk or an attachment for your exsiting one. There’s a lot of people currently working from the dining room table or in a home office which can bring on postural issues and muscular niggles. Being seated for extended periods of time can create tightness and tension so consider standing up for online meetings or even lunge when you’re on conference calls without video. Add activity into your day to keep mental stimulation, good circulation and save time.
- Ask yourself some honest questions when you find yourself reaching for snacks. First one being, ‘am I hungry?’ Often our feelings and emotions trigger a habit loop of self soothing which isn’t helpful at all. We pick food and snacks that provide us with a temporary fix of satisfaction, only to be closly followed with guilt and regret. Aim to be more mindful of how and why you’re eating, so you’ll have more power in saying ‘no’ to your cravings.
It may be worth making a few bullet points on a sticky note to remind you and help keep you focused. Applying a few of the above will make you feel better straight away, so begin to implement them as soon as possible.
Drop me a message if you need any advice or support. You can connect with me on facebook, instagram, linkedIn or contact us.
