Pandemic-proof your health and wellbeing
By Philip Watkins, Naturopath
1. Take time for some perspective
You, your family, friends, colleagues, and pets are experiencing a world-changing event in the form of a virus no one saw coming. At times it can feel like we’ve finished a marathon and kept running. So, from one man to another, be gentle with yourself.
2. Seek out a counsellor
With this in mind, if you feel as if you have something to say but don’t know if members of your network would understand or be able to help, it’s time to seek out a counsellor you can trust. This process can take time so if the first person you try isn’t the right fit, try someone new. Not one of my patients has ever come back and reported that lightening the load of their thoughts with the help of a trained professional worked out poorly.
3. Get a blood test
It’s better to prevent something than to reverse it once it’s already arrived. A key example I see with men is fatty liver. Most don’t know that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the origin story of cardiovascular disease and could be the reason why your blood pressure or cholesterol is high. Getting a blood test and a scan of your liver may save you decades of trouble down the line or just keep you from dying early.
4. Walk around the block
If time is hard to come by and exercise has fallen off, go for a walk around the block. Brisk walking may increase your life expectancy into the 80s but, more importantly, might just break up the day enough to gather your thoughts and begin again.
5. Learn from a neuroscientist
One of my favourite quotes is, “if you can’t find 10 minutes to meditate, then you probably need 3 hours”. If that’s you, then why not get a neuroscientist to teach you how? Through his Waking Up app, Sam Harris, a world-renowned neuroscientist and philosopher, can teach you how to meditate in just 10 minutes a day. As an exclusive for our Wellness Insider readers, type in the code OPENMIND at signup for the first month free and an opportunity to complete the 29-day beginner course for nothing.
6. Stay sober
Try and cut out alcohol for 14 days and see how you feel. Just maybe that sleep problem fixes itself all on its own.
7. Check-in on someone you love for no reason
I’m just going to leave that there.
8. Learn to say “no”
Draw some boundaries on your time and say “No.” I get it: sometimes with children and other round-the-clock responsibilities, this can be hard, but there are occasions when taking an opportunity not to do something can be the best way to get some space to breathe.
9. Nourish yourself
Try some focused supplementation to improve the quality of your day. Vitamins and minerals are the currency your body uses to pay for its daily transactions. A B-Complex vitamin and Magnesium is an excellent place to start for a quality day. A regular dose of fish oil can help you live longer.
10. Start something new
Start the thing you’ve been thinking about. We’ve all got that one thing we’d like to try for our health. Interested in trying Brazilian Jujitsu? Sign up for a private lesson and give it a try. Been thinking that getting to bed earlier might offer you a better outcome the next day? Give it a try! Start something newand get the adrenaline rush of breaking out of your daily routine. It can be as intense or straightforward as you like as long you connect with the fact that you aren’t just your daily routine; you have more freedom than you think!
