Staying healthy during COVID-19 lockdown

We are living through unprecedented times. The Coronavirus crisis is affecting us all in ways that most of us couldn’t have imagined even a few weeks ago. With gyms closed and team sports discouraged due to social distancing, looking after our physical and psychological health is becoming increasingly difficult, and with more of us working from home at improvised workstations, many people are beginning to feel the strain. So how do you keep fit through COVID-19?

1. Consider your workstation: For those who have set up a workstation at home, it can be tempting to sit on the sofa with the computer on your lap, but trying to sit at a proper desk instead, or even the kitchen table will be much better for you posture.

2. Take regular breaks: Without the usual commute to work or the disruptions that the office provides, you can often get more done. It’s not unusual however to find yourself sitting at the desk for hours on end without a break. It might help to set a timer to ensure you take regular breaks. Even just two minutes walking around the house every half hour can help.

3. Go outside, but at a distance: Although this is a fast changing situation and government advice is being updated on a daily basis, at the moment the advice to socially distance does not mean that you have to stay in the house constantly (unless you have symptoms or are in a vulnerable group and have been told to self-isolate). You can still take a short walk for exercise, but if you are going outside, go in a way that reduces social contact. Avoid mass gatherings, avoid public transport and keep a safe distance of about 2 meters from others.

4. Use your home as a gym: If you are in isolation and stuck at home, try to keep active however you can. Walk up and down the stairs several times, get out in the garden if you have one or find a new exercises video on YouTube that you could try.

5. Keep in touch: When we think of keeping fit we often focus on our physical health, but don’t lose track of your psychological wellbeing either. The flip side of social distancing is social isolation, but modern technology such as videocalls (Skype, WhatsApp, Facetime etc.), text messaging, social media and telephone calls make it easier than ever to keep in contact with loved ones without the need for large face-to-face gatherings. Even if you are fine yourself, is there someone you know that might be feeling isolated and who could do with a phone call?

6. Set up a routine: Maintaining a routine can also help you to keep on top of feelings of anxiety and frustration and writing a list of all the things that you want to achieve by the end of the week (and sticking to it) might be part of that.

In order to protect our patients, at Netherne Osteopathic Practice we have taken the very difficult decision to suspend face-to-face consultations for the time being, but are still available to support our clients by providing advice, self-management exercises and reassurance by video call where needed.

The events that are unfolding will undoubtedly affect all of us and change the way we view our selves and our lives in the future, but if we remain calm and work together to support each other as a community we will prevail through these difficult times.