In early 2020, when Covid19 hit the news headlines and graphic videos and images streamlined across social media, the world was stunned by this unknown danger that is taking lives, making people stay in their homes and for those who were fortunate enough to keep their jobs working from home. And Somalia was no different. Somalis are by nature social people, our houses are filled with not just our close family members but relatives as well, not to mention the physical contact, handshakes, hugs, and hellos in proximity.
We thought COVID19 is here temporarily, but we all said I will do X and Y after COVID19 when the world starts opening and everything gets back to normal. Surprise and drum rolls, this is the new normal and we have no option but to find ways to adapt to it. One of the things that a lot of people struggled with in the pandemic is physical and mental health, anxiety levels have heightened, productivity and managing daily tasks has become a burden to many, you might think after a year and a half in to this pandemic we finally set systems in place to keep us live a comfortable life but no, with the new COVID19 waves its almost like going back to the beginning.
It helps to put personal systems and routines in place to help you live a healthier life both mentally and physically. Here are some suggestions that can help you navigate through life and create normalcy in a not so normal time.
- Create a daily routine
Writing down everything that you want to achieve the night before helps you not depend on how you feel during the day or the distractions that may come up. Checking off tasks from the to do list gives us a feeling of accomplishment regardless of how small the given task is. Putting a side, a day in the week where you plan your tasks can do wonders to your life. In addition to work, the plans should include meal plans, workout programs, reading time and sleeping schedule.
- Own your morning
Wake up early and start your day off right regardless of whether you are working from home or not. Some might say I am not a morning person, the truth is no one is, it’s just that some people want to take control of their lives and are willing to put that extra effort to sleep early and wake up early. Mornings have that magic feeling of having some YOU time while the majority of the world (read: the “I am not a morning person”) are sleeping. Have a morning routine that consists of prayer, exercise, meditation, breakfast, reading etc. Tackle the more important tasks in the morning so you are not affected by any changes that might come up as the day goes
- Exercise
Exercise not only makes you physically fit and good looking, but it also works wonders in your mental health. with gyms being one of the places to avoid contracting the virus, you can exercise at home using YouTube as your guide or an online personal trainer, you can take a walk, take in the fresh air, and get lost with your thoughts. Your physical and mental health is one of the key investments you will ever make. Pick exercises that you enjoy and can stay consistent with not random weird workouts on Instagram. Go for compound movements that target all muscle groups. Train whole body and not just the belly. Examples of bodyweight full body exercises are push ups, squats, planks with different variations. You can even take it a notch higher and bring basic equipment at home. Thank me later
2. Eat well
How many times have you heard this “I gained so much weight during the pandemic” or “I have developed health related issues during the pandemic” while there are a lot of factors that can come in to play in those scenarios, vast majority of it is we are not eating nutrient dense foods. If you are not putting much thought into food, chances are you are eating whatever is around and looking for comfort in food, especially junk food.
Food can be both medicine and poison at the same time. Food gives us comfort, brings people together and helps our body function properly. We need to put more thought into what we put in our body. Eat more vegetables and fruits and less refined carbohydrates and sugars. Eat enough meals and snack less in between meals to give your body ample time to digest and take in the nutrients. Go to the market more often and buy wholefoods.
- Manage your stress
Put systems in place to help you manage your stress. Don’t go on autopilot when you feel stressed. When you detect early signs of stress, take deep breaths, journal your thoughts, get out of the environment you are in and take a walk. Going autopilot could mean binging on social media, consuming harmful news, eating junk food or any other destructive habits. Figure out what works best for you to help you clear your mind.
All these tips are to guide you in finding what best works for you. It’s your responsibility to take control of your life in these unpredictable times. It starts with you. Invest more time and resources in yourself. You will not be selfish in doing that, in fact, you will be more useful to your loved ones when you take good care of yourself. This is especially true for all the mothers out there, the unsung heroes taking all for the team while sacrificing their physical and mental wellbeing. You deserve a soft life.
Saynab Dahir is Educator and Coach based in Garowe.
