Taking Charge Of Your Health At Home

It’s now more important than ever that we proactively manage our health. Recent global events have us all thinking about making and sustaining changes that promote healthier living, and now we must do much of this from home.

How can we weather life events and take charge of our health at home? Health is so much more than physical; we must practice these strategies for the whole-brain, whole-body health approach to ensure the best quality of life possible.

Don’t succumb to your couch with a gallon of rocky road and the remote; you can begin to create better health in the comfort of your own home by practicing a few simple strategies. Follow these steps for healthy living success:

1. Check-in with your doctor

You may not be able to make an in-office appointment right now, but you’ll be more likely to keep up your good health habits at home if you communicate with your doctor regularly. Exciting advances in telemedicine make it possible to have virtual visits with your doctor and participate in designing a health plan that works for you.

2. Consider at-home testing

At-home test kits are now available for our use and convenience, and they cover everything from thyroid function and celiac disease to diabetes and S.T.D.s. Let’s face it, some forms of testing at the doctor’s office can be embarrassing; an at-home herpes test adds an extra layer of privacy for those times when you would rather not disclose your personal history to your medical team. Knowing what conditions you have developed is instrumental in being able to treat and manage them effectively; consider finding reputable sources of in-home testing and consult your doctor if you have questions about the interpretation and analysis of data.

3. Keep that body moving!

Your favorite gyms and fitness classes may be off-limits right now, but that does not mean you have to become sedentary. Plenty of options exist for you to engage in physical movement and exercise—right in the comfort of your own home. Walking, running, cycling, and swimming are great options for everyday activity, as are gardening and housework. For those of you that crave more structured fitness routines, there are online subscriptions offering everything from weight training to yoga and beyond; pick your chosen method of sweat-inducing movement and keep your fitness levels from lagging. You have the freedom to design your workout routine–get creative, mix it up, and keep your body active.

4. Eat well

How we fuel our bodies has a significant impact on how we feel and keeping up our energy levels; the standard American diet, or S.A.D., for short, is the antithesis of sound nutritional advice. Seek to eliminate processed foods from your diet, and instead incorporate:

• Plenty of fresh produce
• Whole grains
• Healthy fats
• Lean sources of protein

In doing so, you are giving your body the proper building blocks of great nutrition that will facilitate cellular repair and renewal.

5. Manage your stress

Ongoing stress can incite chronic health conditions that can quickly rob you of your health and vitality. Sure, we live in an increasingly stressful world, but we don’t have to let this stress take its toll on both mind and body. Connecting with and maintaining relationships with others, taking up yoga or meditation, and practicing deep breathing techniques are all wonderful ways to detoxify body, mind, and spirit and promote a healthier life overall.

Centered at home

You may be home more often these days, but this is an exciting opportunity to take charge of your health and make it a very productive time. Emphasize healthy living, healthy eating, and setting up good habits that will improve your total wellness–body, mind, and spirit!