During times of stress and uncertainty, it can be easy to fall into bad habits regarding your personal health. This has been especially true over the last year due to the pandemic, and as things reopen this is likely to continue. We’re all excited to get back to our normal routines and normal lives, but we should also be mindful about our own health at this time. Here are a few suggestions for how you can take care of yourself, from regularly taking a UK Government approved rapid antigen test to just making sure you’re getting enough sleep.
Stay Hydrated
The summer days are long and hot, and whilst you’re back outside having fun, it can be very easy to not drink enough water, especially if there’s alcohol involved! Make sure that you hydrate effectively throughout the day, especially if you’re spending a lot of time outside or exercising. If you’re drinking alcohol, make sure you consume plenty of water before going to bed and after waking up the next morning.
Establish a Meal Routine
If you’re constantly heading out of the house to see friends or to go and have fun in bars now they’ve reopened, you may find that your mealtimes become quite irregular. Try to keep your mealtimes consistent, as this will make sure you feel better in the long run. Avoid skipping meals if possible, as this can often make you feel lethargic and will affect your ability to concentrate.
It’s also a good idea to make sure your meals are nutritious and make up a balanced diet, as this will not only improve your physical health, but also your mental health.
Sleep Well
When our routines change, sleep is often the first thing that suffers. This isn’t helped by the hot nights making sleeping uncomfortable either. If you can, try to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night, as this is the optimum amount of time for your body to recover. Try also to have a consistent routine of waking up and going to bed, as this will make it easier to have a deeper sleep. Meditation apps can also help you if you suffer from insomnia.
Monitor Your Health
If you’re heading out a lot, then you should be regularly taking a UK Government approved rapid antigen test to make sure you’re not spreading coronavirus to other people. Coronavirus, however, isn’t the only thing you should be keeping an eye on; the last year has made it quite difficult to seek medical advice from GPs about ongoing issues, so consider taking this time to try and get a health check-up if you can.
If you aren’t feeling well, then you should definitely contact your doctor and try to book an appointment. You can also ring the NHS non-emergency helpline on 111 if you are just seeking advice.
It’s also a good idea to have regular checkups or at least stay on top of your health. Whether you need some labs, imaging, recovering from a sports injury, or just need to get your general health checked, a place like Anderson Medical can help. Keeping your health in order is important, so don’t be sure to seek professional medical advice as you see fit.
Avoid Quick Stress Fixes
Most people will resort to bad habits when they’re stressed, such as eating poorly or smoking, and this is a completely natural reaction to a stressful situation. When it comes to snacking or eating fatty foods, try to maintain a decent balance, as it’s unrealistic to cut out these foods completely. Many people advocate the 80/20 approach, in which 80% of the food they eat is healthy and the other 20% isn’t.
Don’t Be Hard on Yourself
Sometimes, you’ll have bad days and make bad choices. We all have these days; we’re all human. There’s no point in getting overly worked up about it, as this may exacerbate your stress levels and worsen the situation. Don’t be afraid of reaching out to your loved ones if you need support either; they’ll understand what you’re going through.
