5 things you can do to improve your health without leaving the house

This year, we’ve all become a little more familiar with the four walls of our living rooms. If you’re here in Melbourne, like us, you will have spent the majority of the year indoors. While we’ve been enjoying the comforts of home, one thing has remained at the top of our minds. Our health.

Whether you are working from home or self-isolating, there is no doubt that our physical and mental health can suffer thanks to the rules, realities, and stressors of a global pandemic.

The good news is that you don’t have to leave the comfort and safety of your own home to improve your health. There are opportunities all around you at home that can not only improve your health but can easily be slotted into your daily routine so that you stay motivated.

Being dehydrated can negatively impact everything from your mental focus to energy and metabolism. With all the extra time indoors, you may find yourself even extra thirsty because of spending more time within a centrally heated space. Aim to drink between 2-3 litres of water per day. Keeping a large bottle of water on your desk is a great reminder to keep sipping water throughout the day.

Set aside a few minutes at the start of the week to prep healthy meals in advance so that you can set yourself up to feel incredible. If you are new to meal planning, start small. Even if you only prepare one healthy meal and snack at the beginning of the week, it will help save you from making poor food choices or reaching for that takeaway menu.

Your laptop, smartphone and some lightbulbs emit blue light, which can be damaging to our eyes and suppresses the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. Wear blue light blocking glasses if you spend a lot of your day looking at screens - which may protect your eyes from harmful rays, reduce your headaches and increase focus - and take frequent breaks throughout the day. Guarantee a good night’s sleep by keeping your bedroom an electronics-free zone.

You may not be able to get to the gym right now. Many people have been forced to improvise their workouts at home but don't worry if you don’t have a bunch of fancy equipment or access to an online class or trainer. Bodyweight exercises—exercises that use your own weight to provide resistance—are easy and effective alternatives for working out from the comfort of your living room. Bodyweight movements also improve balance and allow you to work on nailing your form.

Did you know insufficient sleep can ultimately affect life expectancy and day-to-day well-being? Don’t make things harder on yourself! Instead of staying up late to binge-watching Netflix, develop a sleeping schedule that actually serves you. Try avoiding screens like your phone and the TV at least an hour before bed. Use this time to integrate self-care practices like meditation, journaling, a bath, or a calming skin-care routine. Know how many hours of sleep you need to function at your best (for most people it’s 8).