Maria Abi Hanna, Clinical Dietitian/Certified Eating Disorders Specialist – Right Bite, gives us the low-down on what you can do to stay on top of your health as you work from home.
Maintain a healthy diet and stay well hydrated: During stressful times, keeping a healthy diet during can be difficult. Aim for three well-balanced wholesome meals and two healthy snacks in between to keep your sugar levels regulated and help you from over-eating. Make sure you drink at least 2 Liters of water a day as water helps prevent dehydration, boosts your metabolism and helps reduce food cravings
Keep up your healthy Routine: Keeping some structure in your day is important especially during difficult times like these. Maintain regular sleep patterns, structured meal times and consistent workout schedules throughout the day; find the right work-life balance and dedicate some time for personal leisure such as reading, journaling, listening to music or other hobbies you enjoy.
Be active: Staying active is important for your overall health and wellbeing, both physically and mentally. Though the gyms are closed, there are many home workout Apps that you can use to help you keep up with your exercise routines. When possible, go for a walk or a run and enjoy the fresh air. Aim to stay active for at least an hour a day as our activity levels have reduced now that we are working from home. Another good way to stay motivated is by connecting with your workout buddy through online workouts as well.
Get enough Sleep & Rest: Getting the recommended amount of sleep (6-8 hours/day) is important to help you manage your stress levels, reduce your food cravings and improve your metabolism. Keep up with your sleep schedule and stick to a routine.
Stay Connected: With social distancing and everything being closed around us, it can get lonely and may even feel difficult to keep in touch with our friends and family. Stay connected through video calls, emails, texts and social media. Keep in mind, talking things through with someone you know can help you reduce your stress levels and anxiety.
