Keeping Health and Wellness as a Top Priority

While life as we know it has taken a drastic change over the past few weeks, there are still a few things that we can do to help maintain our health and wellbeing during these times of isolation and social distancing.

Our wellbeing is critical for our work-life-balance. The 3 key things we should focus on to maintain our wellbeing, especially in times of high stress like many of us are facing now, are exercise, sleep and eating habits.

Our #Win4Youth Ambassadors, Joyce Bijl and Rachel Maurer, have come up with a few ways to stay fit and exercise within the confines of your home.  Here are some of their suggestions on how to keep active:

• Want to build strength? Use your body weight, do tricep dips on a chair, pushups or planks.
• Cardio hungry? A treadmill is a great option if you have access. If not, walk your yard or house! The distance will add up quickly throughout the day.  
• Stiff from sitting? Stretch out with simple stretches. Move it up a notch and follow an online yoga tutorial. Sitting can make you very stiff, be sure to stand up every hour or so to keep your muscles loose.
• Overwhelmed and don’t know where to start with a healthy routine? Start small! Make little changes and add on as you get comfortable with the new routine. Add walking 10 minutes a day or stretching for a week and see how you feel. Make small changes to make it a lifestyle!

Regular exercise has so many benefits, so try to aim for at least 30 minutes a day. If you consider that the average commute time is around 27 minutes each way, that is valuable time that could be spent on exercising, meditating or other healthy activities.

In a survey from FlexJobs, 77% of respondents said flexible work options would help them be healthier.

Most of all, it is important to find an exercise plan that works for you! Try a few different activities, online classes, or a family routine and decide what suits you best. Then, of course, stick with it! Regular exercise and getting into a routine will help pass the days while we observe social distancing restrictions and limited exposure to the world outside of our homes. With so many of us working remotely, it’s a great time to find a balance between wellness and work.