How to boost health and wellbeing while self-isolating
It’s a very strange and difficult time for many right now. ‘Self-isolation’ and ‘social distancing’ aren’t things that come naturally to a nation of free spirits and social butterflies. Whether you’re embracing your new life or climbing the walls, here are some top tips for keeping your mind and body healthy during lockdown...
Enjoy working from home
A change or lack of routine can be unsettling and it can be difficult to stay focused. The need to separate home/work life is really important and communication is key.
- Set up a comfortable workstation away from distractions and somewhere separate to your ‘relaxation’ area to stop them becoming blurred
- Video calls and group chats are a must – make sure you check in on colleagues. We’ve set up a daily catch-up at 11am (to avoid the 9am wifi crash!) and a virtual 3pm brew!
- Go for a walk in the morning or evening to make it feel like your usual commute
- Have a lunch break away from your desk so you come back refreshed in the afternoon
Kev L said:
“Working from home with my partner means there has to be some boundaries – we’ve split the desk space with tape and must not cross!”
Have fun keeping fit
Lack of gym or fitness classes and no commute to work means you need to find a new routine to keep you feeling motivated…
- Follow some YouTube fitness classes either in your living room or your garden. Many don’t need any equipment – just yourself! Joe Wicks has some great videos on his channel https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=joe+wicks
- Fill a mini-suitcase with books or use tins of beans/bottles of water; whatever you can find to use for weight exercises
- Try to fit in a morning, lunchtime or after work walk or run
- We’ve started a Foundry step challenge (you know how much we love a step challenge) where we’re all aiming to do 5,000 steps a day! So, we’re having to come up with lots of indoor activity ideas to reach our goals – up and down stairs, pacing when on calls, circuit training in the garden – it all counts
Ian said:
“Where possible I’ve kept my routine as normal as I can and treat the day like I would in the office. The only distraction is our little dog ‘Bonnie’. I simply can’t resist taking her out for a run every morning – but it’s a great way to start the day and gets those important steps in. It also combines my daily exercise and walking the dog – efficiency!”
Mitals perfect recipe for working from home
1 kitchen setting
1 retina display mac
1 pad
2 HB pencils
Lots of creative spices
3 cups of tea, 4 hot waters, 1 spiced curry dish, 2 fruits 5k run every other day
3 extra hours of family life and wellbeing
1 happy wife (so far)
1 very happy 5‑month-old child
= 1 very happy creative
Eat healthy snacks and meals
Being at home, it can be easy to snack on things that might be in your fridge which wouldn’t necessarily be in the office. Try to keep healthy in the week then you can look forward to indulging a little at the weekend as a well-earned treat and to make your Saturdays and Sundays feel a bit different! Stock up on things like…
- Carrot sticks, pepper, cucumber and dip
- Toasted pitta and dip
- Fresh fruit
- Good selection of hot drinks – nice coffee/teas – take your mind off biscuits!
Anna said:
“My best tip during lock-down is making sure you spend some time doing something you love – To me that is cooking and baking. Also – having my work-station next to the record player.”
Vicks said:
“I’m running Mrs Green’s homeschool from my kitchen table and fitting work in and around it. We do Maths and English in the morning and then a random subject in the afternoon. It was Science on Friday and we did this in the garden helped by our furry assistant. 😂 ”
Tracey said:
“In between work, I counted all the tiles on the kitchen floor and paced the house for 3 days – now I burn my energy on the treadmill while watching The Crown, then at lunch it’s meals on wheels time – got to keep my dad fed and healthy… and drunk 😃 ”
Kirsty said:
“Being at home with two little ones – I crave a tidy right now!”
Sarah said:
“I’m trying to go a run or do a mini garden or living room workout in a morning to start the day! I’ve also turned the corner of the spare room into an office, so I have a quiet space away from distractions – like the biscuit cupboard!”
Stu said:
“I’m using my commute time – typically 75 – 90mins each way per day – for rolling, stretching and strengthening exercises to supplement my running. I‘ll often have the telly on too so I can catch up on the news and weather. Plus, doing it inside means I’ve still got my daily ‘outdoor exercise token’ to spend on a run or cycle!”
Kate said:
“Sticking to a routine has been key for me. Planning my day the night before, allows me to do my job and look after a two-year-old.”
Elaine said:
“I’m starting to understand now why dogs try to run out every time you open the front door. That’s why I find getting some fresh air throughout day keeps me motivated.”
Mark said:
“Well it appears some things never change, instead of debating radio station choices with the team in the office I’m now doing it with my wife and teenage boys. But 6 music always wins! 😊 ”
Kev O said:
“I’ve been using my lunch hour to get outside for fresh air and a long walk around the town!”
We hope some of these tips have helped you refocus. We’ll be recording our steps in our homes, gardens and local areas as part of our daily exercise allowance and a way to keep motivated as we continue to work from home. Feel free to join us or keep up-to-date with our progress by following us on Twitter or Instagram. Stay safe everyone!