Our Dietitian Alice Mika has written a new blog post about staying well during lockdown, which you can read below. If you would like to make an appointment with Alice, please call (03) 9534 0611!
Many people are finding lockdown and working from home challenging. If you have noticed changes in mood, energy levels, eating habits or appetite, you are not alone. In a survey conducted by the CSIRO looking at wellbeing during COVID-19, around a third of responders felt that their diet had worsened, with many also reporting a decrease in exercise.
While maintaining a healthy lifestyle may be challenging during this time, there are a few small steps you can take that can make a big difference in how you feel.
Routine
While it can be easy to slip from your regular routine and lose your eating routine with it, try to stick to a regular meal pattern. You may have found that your appetite has increased, decreased or you’re just not making meals a priority while working from home. Try to continue to eat three meals a day to ensure that you’re fuelling your body (and brain) and creating some structure in your day.
Exercise
It can be difficult to motivate yourself to get moving, especially when it is cold and you have to find your mask before you can make it out of the house. Being active every day has many benefits, including maintaining your physical health and fitness and improving mental health and sleep quality. Light exercise may also help alleviate gastrointestinal issues which can sometimes be caused by periods of high stress or irregular intake.
Water
You may find that your water intake has decreased while working from home. Try filling a water bottle and keeping it next to you to make it easier to stay hydrated. Take a sip every time you send an email or answer your phone or zoom!
Mindfulness
Mindfulness and mindful eating can be great tools to support your health. Try taking 10 minutes out of your day to be mindful. Take a break from work for meal times and use this as an opportunity to practice mindful eating. See our mindful eating blog post for some tips.
Alcohol intake
While it is absolutely fine to indulge occasionally, many people have found that their intake of alcohol has increased through this lockdown. The recommendation for alcohol intake is up to 2 standard drinks per day, with two alcohol free days per week.
If you’re struggling with your mental or physical health during this time, please reach out for support.
For support around diet and lifestyle, our allied health team are here for you and available for appointments.
For mental health support:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Coronavirus hotline: 1800 675 398