In these challenging times we have many hurdles to overcome. Many of us have had to jump over some hurdles already, and unfortunately many of us have been directly or indirectly affected by the virus itself.

My article is designed to help you stay physically and mentally fit over this period… why?

We all know the benefits of staying active… not only does it help increase the amount of calories we burn to keep the weight off but exercise is amazing for our mental health. Getting outside for your 1 hour of exercise a day will have an amazing impact on your mood.

But don’t just stop there. There are many home based workouts you can do to remain active. And these workouts do not need to be high intensity. They can be beginners yoga, pilates, non-equipment strength workouts… and the best place to find these workouts are on YouTube. Just search for them, its all free!

There are three more areas that will help with your physical and mental health.

1. Routine
We are creatures of habit. And having a basic routine to follow each day gives us a sense of achievement. These times have thrown us all out of routine which does play a part on our physical and mental health.

Start to develop a daily routine. Wake up at the same time each day, workout in the morning, go for your walk at the same time and go to bed at the same time each day. This simple routine will give you balance and you can work the rest of your day around this.

2. Nutrition
This for me is very important. If we are eating high sugar or processed foods and drinking high amounts of alcohol we are making life very hard for ourselves.

Have a balanced diet and lower your sugar content. Make sure you eat breakfast and snack on healthy foods throughout the day. By lowering sugar in your diet and cutting back on alcohol you will notice a huge difference in your energy levels and mood!

3. Stay social!
Use technology to keep in touch with loved ones. And have fun too. Run some quizzes on Zoom with family and friends. If you are in business join virtual business groups to meet new people.

We may be locked down but we have the benefit of modern technology to stay in touch.

And just one final thing. Please think of others, if you have friends or family who aren’t in contact with many people be sure to get them using technology to stay in touch.

It doesn't take much to make a difference to your physical and mental health, and these tips above are a great start.

Stay safe.