January 06, 2021
Whew, what a rollercoaster 2020 turned out to be! But who would have predicted such a crazy year? Out of the many things 2020 taught us, self-care is certainly towards the top of the list. So here is a list of six healthy habits to prepare us for whatever 2021 has in store. Whether you’re still looking for a New Year’s resolution or just want to make a healthy lifestyle change, check out our list below.
STAY HYDRATED
Drink water. It doesn’t get any easier than that! There are a lot of factors that go into determining how much water you should drink per day. But according to this Healthline article, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) a day for adult women and 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) a day for adult men.
GET ADEQUATE SLEEP
This is probably easier said than done but getting a good night’s rest can make a huge difference – both mentally and physically. How many hours of sleep you need varies based on your age. Most adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep and children and teens need even more.
LOG OFF
If you’re working from home, it can be easy to get sucked in after logging on to send a ‘quick email.’ Before you know it, it is 8:00pm and you haven’t even thought about dinner. Or maybe quarantine and local health orders have you logging more hours on social media and virtual hangouts. Staying in touch with friends and family is important (and is even the next tip listed below) but spending too much time working or on social media can have negative effects on mental and physical health.
STAY IN TOUCH
On the other side of the spectrum, can you imagine what 2020 would have been like without virtual meeting and social media platforms? Thank goodness these technologies exist – and not only because of the pandemic. We all need human interaction so if you find yourself spending more time at home with your pets these days, be sure to fulfill this need. After all, working from home and keeping in touch with long-distance family and friends has never been easier!
Our teams are always trying to find new ways to host virtual events for our residents where and when possible. If you have a virtual event idea you would like held at your community, be sure to send it to us! Click here and fill out the contact form using the ‘Providing Feedback’ option which will send your idea to your community team.
GET OUTSIDE
It is recommended to be active at least 30 minutes each day. And you don’t need to be a marathon runner either – just keep it simple, like taking a leisurely walk through your neighborhood. The fresh air and sunshine (depending where you live) will boost your mood and energy levels.
SELF CARE
Self-care seems to be a common theme these days. Whether you’re quarantining, working from home or maybe both, be sure to check-in with yourself. How are you feeling (mentally and physically)? If you find the ‘new normal’ has you a bit stressed out, make a conscious effort to spend time away from stressors. If you’re eating habits haven’t been the best lately, take simple steps like eating something green every day.
Here’s to a brighter 2021 and a healthier you!
