Maintaining Your Health Post-Pandemic – One 2017 study found that fewer than 3% of Americans lived a “healthy” lifestyle. The criteria included things like body fat percentage, duration of exercise during a week, and a high score on the healthy eating index.
While those numbers have likely fluctuated throughout the years, it’s easy to look at that statistic and find it shocking in a post-pandemic world. Nowadays, it’s interesting to see how many people have started to take a second look at their overall wellness.
Over the last year and a half, the entire world was flipped upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. While it can be hard to believe anything “good” stemmed from such an international crisis, the pandemic did make more people aware of their health and wellbeing, driving a desire to take better care of themselves.
Now, things are starting to open up and get back to normal. So, if you started to make your health a priority during the pandemic, what now? You may not have as much time as you did when you were under a lockdown, and you might be tempted to fall back into old, unhealthy habits.
But, by maintaining or improving your health, you’ll boost your immune system, improve your mood, and feel better every day. Let’s cover a few ideas on how you can feel your best with a few simple lifestyle changes.
Taking Nutrition Seriously
Almost everyone has heard the saying, “you are what you eat.” There’s some truth to that sentiment. Your mind and body need certain nutrients to function properly and maintain a certain level of health. Unfortunately, not everyone maintains a healthy diet, which can weaken your immune system and make it easier to get sick.
Your diet plan should include nutrient-dense foods, like:
- Salmon
- Kale
- Garlic
- Shellfish
- Blueberries
- Egg yolks
Foods rich in nutrients will give your body what it needs, including the vitamins it requires for various functions. It’s never a bad idea to do your research on the vitamins your body needs and what each one does. For example, Vitamin D helps your bones to absorb calcium. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals in your body.
If you’re having trouble making major dietary changes, it’s okay to take baby steps. Consider taking supplements or a multivitamin while you’re working on your diet so you’ll know your body is getting what it needs, even if it isn’t always from what you’re eating.
In addition to getting enough nutrients from your food or a supplement, there’s another dietary factor that is just as important – water. Staying hydrated is crucial, especially when you’re moving around so much. A glass of water can boost your energy levels and mood and help to cool your body down after some strenuous exercise.
Staying In-the-Know
Throughout the pandemic, scientists and medical professionals kept as many people safe and healthy as possible. Just because we’re starting to resemble some normalcy again doesn’t mean we can “tune out” the advice of the healthcare industry.
Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to listen to experts in the medical field. Already, there have been COVID variants spreading across the world. By staying in the know, you can have a better understanding of how to protect yourself and your family. Listening to experts can also help you feel better about getting vaccinated or taking additional steps to prevent future viral spreads. According to the CDC, prevention tips include:
- Wearing a mask
- Staying six feet away from others
- Avoiding crowds
- Washing your hands frequently
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Cleaning and disinfecting
It’s not just COVID that presents a threat. Listening to medical professionals like epidemiologists will help you to understand the ins and outs of any communicable diseases. Epidemiologists and other professionals focusing on certain health issues are working hard to make sure the general public stays as safe as possible. Some common issues that these professionals specialize in include:
- Mental health
- Chronic diseases
- Maternal health
- Emergency response
- Injury
- Environmental health
- Oral health
- Occupational health
As a whole, trust in medical experts has grown since the COVID outbreak. In 2020, 43% of U.S. adults had a great deal of confidence in medical scientists to act in the best interest of the public. That’s up from 24% in 2016.
Despite that growing trust, there are still individuals with doubts and concerns when it comes to the medical science community. By taking the time to research your concerns and getting multiple opinions, you can stay up-to-date with the latest healthcare changes and keep yourself more protected.
Developing Healthy Habits
Maintaining or improving your health doesn’t have to mean making major, unrealistic changes in your life. In fact, doing so might not be sustainable if you have a busy schedule or are prone to a lot of stress.
Instead, focus on making small changes and turning them into healthy habits. Daily habits are easier to stick with. They will eventually become second nature, and living a healthy lifestyle will feel completely normal.
Not sure where to get started? Keep some of the following ideas in mind to make sure you’re putting your health first each day:
- Drink more water
- Get moving
- Spend some time in the sun
- Get enough sleep
- Practice self-care each day
- Practice mindfulness for your mental health
It’s also important to make sure your family gets on board with their healthy habits. That could include spending more time outdoors, regularly communicating with each other, and cooking healthy meals together. When you make health a priority as a family, there are so many things you can do to be safer and stronger. Everything from improving the indoor air quality of your home by taking care of houseplants to pest-proofing your home by keeping things clean will improve your overall well-being. When everyone is on the same page about staying healthy, you’ll find it’s a much easier task to take on.
This post-pandemic world might look a bit different. But, you can make the most of it by maintaining your health. With a few changes, a motivational mindset, and a desire to stay as healthy as possible, you can live a healthier life today than ever before, and develop beneficial habits that will last a lifetime.
