Before the pandemic, we were getting a bit complacent about our health as a society. Long working hours, lack of exercise, and some questionable eating habits. Relying on a few painkillers and an energy drink to keep us going when we felt under the weather.
How often have you put off going to the gym? The doctors? The dentist? Whether this is through laziness, lack of time or just a complete lack of organization, there are ways to move fitness up the agenda without making too many unrealistic changes to your everyday life.
Get the doctor to come to you
We’re not suggesting you request a home visit from your GP, these are only for emergencies. But thanks to modern technology, you can now talk to an online GP via a video call to discuss most health problems. You’ll still be seeing a qualified medical professional but your consultation will be done remotely, meaning that you don’t have to put it off because you don’t have the time to get to your local surgery. Too many people put off going to the doctors and in some cases, a serious illness can be diagnosed in its early stages.
Get more exercise in less time
There are so many benefits to staying active. It’s good for cardiovascular health, bone density, muscle mass, mood and a host of other things. Yet most of us don’t get the recommended amount of exercise needed to stay healthy. So, if heading to the gym or spending hours in front of YouTube videos sweating it out make you want to go for a lie-down, you need to find a way to fit the most amount of beneficial exercise into the shortest amount of time. Two great types of activity are HIIT and kettlebells. HIIT, or High-Intensity Interval Training, involves doing an exercise intensively for a set period, followed by a short rest. Kettlebells are a favourite of busy people who want results fast. Using a kettlebell can give you both a strength workout and a cardiovascular one at the same time. It also burns a high amount of calories too compared to many forms of exercise.
Check your stats at home
Medical technology has come so far in the last few decades and we have access to a wide range of medical equipment right in our own homes. A smartwatch can track your exercise, heart rate and quality of sleep, while smart scales can determine how much body fat and muscle mass you have. Blood pressure monitors are good for those people who need to keep an eye on their readings or experience ‘white coat readings’ when they visit the doctor. You can even order cholesterol and blood glucose tests you can do at home
Final thoughts
There’s no denying that we need to make our health more of a priority, especially as we get older. But it can be difficult to get into the habit of putting ourselves first, especially if we’re naturally lazy or simply put everything else in our busy lives first.