5 Ways To Kickstart Your Healthy Routine After Lockdown

It can be really hard to stick to a healthy routine when we’ve been stuck in the house for so long. Without the need to go into the office, lounge pants and stretchy t-shirts have replaced properly tailored clothing, and these are a lot more forgiving to the few pounds you may have put on as a result of weeks spent indoors.

Now that things are beginning to open up, however, it’s a good time to really start to think about improving your health and taking a deeper look at your life. A healthy body and a healthy mind are vital to ensuring we’re getting the best out of life.

Healthy Family

It’s not just you, either: the kids haven’t been in school for weeks, meaning they’ve missed out on phys-ed classes and running around the school yard with their friends. With many parents rightly fearing going outside for long periods, it can seem as if the shelter in place order has had a negative impact on our physical and mental health even if it has saved us from catching the virus.

With that being said, there are always things we can do to improve our health and taking the first small steps is vital! Here are five things you can start doing today to improve your health and that of your family.

Juice!

Getting enough fruit and vegetables in can seem like a bit of a battle, especially with kids, but smoothies and juicing provides a fun and tasty way to get those all-important vitamins in! Check out Juicing City for some great advice and tasty-looking recipes to try!

Start an Exercise Routine

The gym may not be open yet, but there are plenty of exercise routines on YouTube for you to try. You can try yoga, Pilates, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), or even dance classes. Dance is one of those things that you might not think of as exercise, but you need to be mindful that you don’t injure yourself if you choose to take it up. Many dancers have their own portable dance floors that are sprung at the base, giving a little extra bounce for strenuous routines. It would be wise to get yourself your own dance board so that you don’t injure yourself before you’ve even begun, and then you’re back to square one! This applies to all sport and exercise – make sure you are aware of the safety equipment you might need before you try anything new.

Meatless Mondays

Eating a more plant-based diet has been shown to have some health benefits for nearly everyone who tries it. If you’re not quite ready to pack in the bacon, why not aim for a meat-free Monday? You could even push it further and go for Fish-Friday, too! Making food fun again can lead to healthier habits.

Set Your Goals

Setting goals is absolutely vital to stick to a new routine. Without goals, we are rudderless and much less likely to actually achieve what we wanted to achieve. Make sure your goals are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Goals need to be realistic, too, there’s no point in setting a goal to lose 60lb by next week, but why not aim to walk five miles this week?

Make Time For Mindfulness

Mental and physical health are intrinsically linked. Ensure you’re looking after both by setting aside time for mindfulness and relaxation. Whether you decide to go for some gentle yoga routines, a bit of meditation, or even a nice long bath, take the time for you to settle body and mind.

Kelly Tate