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PHOTOS BY ANDREA PIACQUADIO FROM PEXELS
a better you
MAINTAINING HEALTHY HABITS DURING A PANDEMIC By Trudie German
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O DOUBT THIS PANDEMIC HAS hit all of us by surprise. I mean, when we were creating our vision boards, planning our meetings, travel plans, conferences and resorts, nowhere did we plan for a pandemic. Here we are, some of us are working from home where we are the parent, assistant, teacher and caregiver. We are burning the candles at both ends, preparing for our Zoom calls, checking our childrens’ assignments, meeting deadlines, and managing our teams. Everything and everyone is a priority, except you and your health. Your health has fallen to the side because you’re not making time, and the truth is, you don’t even think about it. Your health is important, and I’ll be sharing some steps you can take to be a healthier you through the pandemic. Sleep- It isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. You need sleep to function. This is the time when your body and brain rebuild, recover and replenish. During sleep, your immune system also becomes stronger, which will decrease your chances of becoming ill. Deprivation of sleep increases your chance of errors and your risk of diseases like diabetes and cancer. Exercise -You need it, but don’t have to have a gym for it. You can work out at home even if you don’t have equipment. This is why I created my 30 Day At Home Shred With Trudie Program, to ensure anyone can work out, whether they have access to equipment or not. Exercising isn’t only for weight loss, it also increases your energy levels which will boost your productivity. It will make you feel happier too, as hormones, dopamine and endorphins are released. When you exercise, sweat helps to flush toxins out of your body which improves your immune system.
preparing your immune system to be sick. Similarly, foods affect your mood and energy level. Fueling your body with water, along with fruits and vegetables and whole grains will have you feeling fuller longer and be more energetic. Remember, you are what you eat! Stress Stress isn’t going anywhere, pandemic or not. It’s one of those nuisances that is part of our lives. Whenever we feel ourselves feeling stressed or overwhelmed, we should pause and take 10 long deep breaths. This type of breathing calms us down and allows us to evaluate the situation. Another thing you can do is, make time for daily activities that bring you joy or make you feel calm. For example, take yourself for a walk, watch a comedy film or read a few pages of a book from your favorite author. Do something that relaxes you! Taking the steps previously outlined may seem tedious, but if you’re not willing to do it for yourself, please do it for the people and things you care about. Remember, without your health, you’re useless to the ones you care the most about. u
Nutrition Eating clean is a simple step to bring you closer to health, but isn’t just about losing weight. It impacts how you feel and your immune system. Eighty percent of your immune system is found in your gut. If you’re eating unhealthy meals like fast foods and food high in sugar, you’re
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