The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us in different ways and in varying degrees. Those who have just gotten into a routine groove of hitting the gym or an open park a few times a week before or after work are finding themselves at a loss, in terms of staying on top of their physical health. 

This is especially true when stay-at-home protocols were implemented and movement in public spaces was restricted. Still, maintaining good health is key in surviving this pandemic in one piece.



So, here’s how you do it. 

1. Observe Health Protocols

First things first. Of course, your priority should be dodging the coronavirus altogether. Experts from the World Health Organization and other groups tasked with overseeing research and development on the coronavirus have released health and safety guidelines advising the public on how to effectively reduce their risk of getting the virus.

Make sure to observe all of these protocols as closely as you can in order to reduce transmission risk, not just for yourself, but for everyone else in your household.

2. Do Meal Prep

Now that you are spending more time at home, you no longer have any viable excuses for not making your own meals. It’s time to finally start eating healthy by making your own meals at home. Fast-food and takeout meals may be nice and convenient for when you don’t have the luxury of time, but it’s always better to prepare your own meals so you have full control over what goes in it. 

If you’ve never been an avid cook, you can go slow and start with some healthy wraps that won’t even take half an hour to prepare at home. 

3. Workout From Home

Next, it’s perfectly fine if you don’t feel comfortable going back to your gym in the meantime. After all, the best gym is the one where your body is. There are a lot of workout routines that you can do at home, with or without any gear or equipment.

It’s also not a bad idea to spend some time outdoors, even just for a quick walk around the neighborhood or to jog in a nearby open field, for as long as you keep your distance from other people who also want to sweat it out outdoors.

4. Consider Physical Therapy

One drawback of working from home is that it completely diminishes our passive workout, which we usually get from walking from the parking lot to our desks, or from the office to the nearest bus stop. When working remotely, all it takes is 10 steps or so to get from your bed all the way to your work desk.

As such, you might have felt strange pains on parts of your body like your lower back or your neck. Now, instead of popping painkillers left and right, it might be better to consult a professional pain management expert such as a physical therapist. This way, you can get to the root of whatever’s causing you pain instead of just temporarily easing the pain every time.

5. Avoid Overworking

Another downside to remote working is that it makes you more susceptible to overworking. Since you’re just at home, you might find it difficult to draw the line that separates the workday from the rest of your day. Usually, work completely grinds to a halt once you’ve clocked out, but right now it seems you have to always be on for work even beyond your normal business hours.

This is very bad for your health, since overworking puts both your physical and mental health in a very vulnerable position. So you have to make the conscious effort not to make yourself available for any tasks beyond your normal working hours. Shut down your PC and turn off the notifications on all your gadgets the moment your official business hours end. Give yourself enough time to rest and do recreational activities to avoid burnout.

6. Get Quality Sleep

In line with your active efforts to avoid overworking, you should be getting enough sleep. This does not only pertain to getting enough hours of sleep, but also to the kind of sleep you’re getting. You should always aim for deep sleep that completely refreshes your body and mind. Even if you technically get 7 hours of sleep but you jolt awake every now and then to check your emails or messages, then you’re still not getting enough quality sleep.

When you don’t get enough sleep, the impact on your health is voluminous. Your metabolism slows, your immune system is compromised, and your body is in a constant state of stress that it will not operate at full capacity.

Once you start improving your sleep, you will have a better mood, more strength and endurance, and way improved metabolism.

These are just some of the best ways to remain on top of your health while battling the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It might be challenging, but with enough determination to remain in top shape, you can do anything you set your mind to do.