With so much stress and unpredictability in the world, health and wellness are becoming top priorities for many people. The good news is there are plenty of ways to keep your mind and body in good shape from the comfort and safety of your home.
Read on for ideas on how to stay healthy whilst spending more time at home.
1. Relax and Ease Stress with Hydrotherapy
It’s no secret that hot tubs are an excellent way to relax. But they also have amazing healing properties, too. Hot tubs offer a combination of heat, buoyancy, and massage that can have a huge impact on physical and mental well-being.
Regular soaks in a hot tub can be used to:
- Improve sleep patterns
- Reduce stress
- Ease muscle tension
- Soothe joint pain
- Boost circulation
- Speed healing of minor injuries
- Boost your immune system
- And more!
In terms of mental health, time spent in the hot tub can encourage the production of endorphins, which have a calming effect on anxiety and pain.
2. Take Daily Walks
Getting moving does wonders for your health and mindset. Incorporating a leisurely walk into your daily routine is a wonderful way to get some light exercise and, perhaps more importantly, a change of scenery. Go alone, invite a friend to join you, or take the family pet along for company.
If you’re adventurous, you might plan your routes around visiting nearby areas that you’ve never had the chance to fully explore. If you live within walking distance of natural areas such as parks, ravines, and streams, you can make a longer excursion of it by packing a picnic lunch.
3. Detox Your Body With Time In a Sauna
Sweating is an important way that your body clears itself out and most people don’t do nearly enough of it. The modern world is full of harmful material, and your body is constantly absorbing all kinds of toxins through your skin.
Saunas have been used for years to encourage the body to shed these unwanted elements, as well as promote relaxation and increase circulation.
If you’re new to saunas, it’s wise to start slowly with shorter sessions of about 15 minutes and then work your way up to 40 minutes or so at a time.
Be sure to remove jewelry and accessories, including glasses and contact lenses, before getting in. It’s also a good idea to drink water to ensure you stay well hydrated as you sweat out the bad stuff.
4. Limit Your Screen Time
Many of us take comfort in our phones and laptops as a way to connect with others, distract ourselves, and simply to pass the time. Even though we all know the drawbacks of spending too much time plugged in and online, it can be difficult to break the habit.
One way to make it easier is to set limits around your screen time. Many people find they sleep better if they are strict about putting their phones away at least two hours before bedtime.
From time to time, you may also wish to have a screen-free weekend, where you commit to no cellphone or computer use, and devote yourself to non-digital pastimes.
5. Create a Morning Routine You Look Forward to
When you’re down or stressed, getting out of bed can seem impossible. However, staying in bed and sleeping late on a regular basis can actually have a negative impact on your mood and energy levels.
So, find things to get excited about at the start of your day. Maybe it’s taking the time to serve your morning tea or coffee in a special cup or simply turning on your favourite music and beginning your day with a mini song and dance party.
Exercise of any kind can give you a major boost in the morning, so if you don’t fancy dancing, you might do some yoga or take a dip in your swim spa for some light exercise that will get your endorphins pumping. This is your chance to have fun and choose a routine that includes the kind of activities that get you jazzed to begin the day.
6. Try New Healthy Hobbies
The past year has seen a renaissance of hobbies with people all over the world taking up bread baking, gardening, knitting, crafting, and more. One of the silver linings of being at home more often is that we now have more time to devote to picking up new skills and interests.
Hobbies have an added benefit of connecting you with other people who share the same interests. There are groups on the Internet devoted to just about every hobby you could ever think of. No matter where you live, there are likely to be some local groups you can join to share your hobby with and meet new people.
The sky is really the limit when it comes to hobbies, but if you’re having trouble coming up with ideas for what to do, try thinking back to what you loved to do as a child. Even if you haven’t revisited your passion since you were little, we’re willing to bet that the spark is still there.
7. Get Creative in the Kitchen
Cooking is one of those ‘lose yourself in the flow’ activities. It engages so many of your senses as the kitchen comes alive with tantalizing smells, delicious flavours, and beautiful platings. Flip through your favourite cookbooks or turn on the cooking channel to get inspired.
To turn cooking into a shared activity, get everyone in the family involved! Little ones can help with simple and safe prep work, such as washing vegetables and rolling out dough, and older kids and adults can work together to slice, dice, grill, sauté, bake, and more. Meals are often far more enjoyable when they’ve been made together and with love.
Another wonderful benefit of cooking at home is that you have greater control over the quality and nutrition of your meals. As we all know, a well-balanced diet is essential to good health, and having a roster of delicious recipes that your family loves will make mealtime an enjoyable part of your wellness routine.
8. Connect Virtually with Friends and Family
Research has shown time and time again just how important social connections are to mental health, which in turns, impacts physical well-being.
There are so many ways to stay connected with your loved ones from a distance. Video calls, messaging apps, and social media all can help you stay in touch no matter how far away you are.
Sitting down with a cup of tea or coffee and having a chat with a close friend over video call can do wonders for your mood. You could also try planning a Zoom party to gather your entire social circle online to catch up.
Also, you don’t have to go the high-tech route if you don’t want to! Writing a good, old-fashioned letter is also a pleasant way to spend an hour or two, and the recipient will be delighted to receive a personalized, hand-written message from you.
9. Tackle Home Improvement Projects
Has your hot water heater been on the fritz for a while? Maybe you’ve got a leaky tap that needs attention. Taking the time to mend, upgrade, or replace items and areas within your home is key to living well.
This is also a fantastic opportunity to assess whether anything is missing from your home or your life. Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of having a walk-in closet or a home sauna. Consider your needs and what would add value and, just as importantly, joy to your life and start looking into your options.
10. Lose Yourself in Reading a Good Book
Reading is good for your mental health in several different ways. It’s a calming and relaxing way to focus your mind and quiet any distractions or unwanted thoughts.
Non-fiction books can help you develop your knowledge and skills, and fiction novels have been shown to increase your capacity for empathy and compassion.
Not sure what to read or don’t have very many books lying around the house? Don’t forget about audiobooks and e-books! They can be downloaded instantly from the Internet and accessed from a range of mobile devices. Many people like to pair reading a book with exercising, and audiobooks are particularly well-suited to this.
Turning on an audiobook as you relax in the bath, hot tub, swim spa, or sauna offers the ultimate in relaxation as you can close your eyes and lose yourself in the story.
11. Spend Quality Time with Your Partner
Making time for your relationship is another incredible way to stay healthy and happy. One common piece of advice for couples is to ‘never stop dating.’ Why not plan weekly one-on-one time with your significant other? There are plenty of fun dates that you can do right at home.
Cooking and sharing a fancy meal or cuddling up on the sofa with snacks and drinks are two popular ways to spend time together. For a really romantic evening, you could take a soak together in a hot tub, complete with candles, soft music, and wine.
You get all of the health benefits that a hot tub offers, such as reduced muscle tension and increased relaxation, and also the emotional benefits of connecting with your partner through quality time.
12. Stay on Top of Your Housework
When we’re feeling down or overwhelmed, one of the first things to go is the housework. But the fact is, no one can feel their best in a home that’s messy, cluttered, and disorganized. So, it’s well worth your time to work out a housekeeping plan that you can stick to.
For many people, it’s much easier to do a few minutes of tidying every day than to wait until the mess builds to catastrophic levels. It’s also a good idea to divide up the chores amongst your household members and then rotate the responsibilities on a weekly or monthly basis. Your reward will be the peace of mind that comes from having everything (or most things, at least) in its place.
13. Exercise in Your Home, Garden, or Swim spa
Home workouts are a fantastic way to stay in shape and keep your spirits up. You don’t need to set up an extensive home gym—a few well-chosen items will more than cover your fitness needs. Treadmills, stair and elliptical machines are popular choices.
If you’re more of a water fitness person, a swim spa is something to consider. Don’t let the word ‘spa’ fool you. While you are indeed in for a more luxurious experience than a run on a treadmill, you will still get a proper workout.
These versatile systems also go by the names of fitness pools, endless pools, and all-season pools, and they offer a unique combination of home fitness and hydrotherapy. You’ll feel the burn as you swim against the natural current and then unwind in a hydromassage seat.
Shop Hot Tubs, Swim Spas, and Saunas in Washington, West Sussex for Healthy Living
Are you inspired to find new ways to stay healthy while spending more time at home? Find more information about how you can enhance your home and garden with a hot tub, swim spa, or sauna from Euphoria Lifestyle.
The expert staff at our award-winning dealership are always available to help you navigate your options and select the best product for your lifestyle. Choose from a wide selection of top-of-the-line brands that feature the most advanced technology in the industry.