While everyone is spending their days at home, it is tempting to laze around and give into bad habits. The COVID-19 situation is unfamiliar to everyone and a way to keep a sense of normalcy is to continue with our ordinary lives. Rather than wasting time and dreading quarantine, we should be opportunistic and use this time to renew ourselves. One of the best ways to do that is to work out and get fit. A few tips are listed down below to encourage the beginning of a healthy and happy lifestyle.

1. Have healthy meals

Because we are stuck at home with nothing to do, it takes just a few steps before we sneak into the kitchen. Amid this chaotic situation, people are purchasing junk and canned foods to feed their needs. In an article from The New York Times, Julie Creswell expresses that “food purchases are purely an emotional reaction.” She continues by saying that “consumers are reaching for foods that trigger a comforting childhood memory or are simply their go-to snack when they need to relieve stress.” Due to COVID-19, food is a way to distract us from what is happening around the world. Instead of giving in to our stress, we can renew our eating schedules and healthily start again. To stay healthy, we must take care of our bodies and eat well.

       2. Create a schedule

Since we are at home most of the time, it is easy to give up on creating a routine. This leads to a lack of motivation and the next thing we know, people are lying in their beds all day. This may help for some, and others not so much, but planning a schedule for your day ahead of time can motivate one to complete tasks and make healthy choices. This may not be beneficial for everyone, but this is a step towards being organized and orderly during a chaotic time. 

       3. Find a way to get active and exercise

It is very important to keep our bodies moving throughout the day. Whether it be yoga, light jogs, a run, or playing a sport at the park, these are easy, everyday activities that everyone can incorporate into their schedule. Srini Pillay, an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, stated in Harvard Health Publishing, “by working out, going on a meditative walk by yourself, or going for a synchronized walk with someone, you may gain access to a “back door” to the mental changes that you desire without having to ‘psych yourself’ into feeling better.” During quarantine, there is so much time to improve our bodies, mentally and physically. By keeping our bodies in action, by the end of quarantine, we will all have healthy habits in place. 

With these tips in mind, quarantine can lend itself to healthy lifestyles building toward the best version of ourselves.