Looking after your mental and physical well-being
Looking after your mental health during the Covid-19 outbreak is paramount, as is looking after your physical health. While we are all restricted with our daily exercise, and for some of us spending more time at home than we are used to, there are still plenty of ways to stay fit and active during lockdown.
It is especially important to keep your body moving and as active as possible if you suffer from muscular, joint pain or long term conditions such as arthritis, kidney disease or diabetes. Exercise benefits everyone by helping to manage our weight, improve blood pressure, heart health and lowering blood sugar levels.
Increasing Strength and Flexibility
Exercise also increases strength and flexibility, reduces joint pain, and helps to combat fatigue. Of course, if you are feeling stiff and suffer from painful joints, the thought of exercise might seem overwhelming. Therefore it is important to find the one that suits you best. If it’s something you enjoy and it helps then you are more likely to do it regularly. Think about doing it on ‘a good day’ one of those days (or part of the day) when you feel a bit better. You’ll also notice it improves your mental wellbeing.
It is important before starting any new form of exercise you check with your G.P. or physical therapist.
Managing Joint Pain at Home
Arthritis Action share some very useful tips in managing your joint pain at home. Find out more HERE . They have launched a series of online chair-based exercises with the aim of helping those with hip, knee or spinal Osteoarthritis to be more mobile and active. Try their suggestions here.
They have also put together a directory of free video exercise classes online, to help you find ways to remain active, during lockdown and self-isolation.
Looking After Your Mental Well-being
Living with a long term condition can be both physically and mentally exhausting. Our free course Reclaim Your Life helps you to get your life back on track. Your life is more important than your illness, so it’s important that you claim it back. Even if you are bed-bound, depressed, chronically fatigued, or unable to get about, our course can help you. If you’ve had a diagnosis that frightens you or if you’re struggling after years of impaired mobility, we have a way to help you feel a bit better each day.
Other accompanying resources which may be of use to you are Write all over your bathroom mirror, 10 things you can do to feel happier straight away, and we have a range of free resources to help you with relaxation. Access our free tension Control Training tools here.
Living with a long-term conditions no doubt brings challenges especially during these testing times and it’s important to have the confidence, support and information to manage your health. Self care can help you to make the most of living with your condition, rather than avoiding or missing out on things because of it, and will keep your mental health on track until such times that you can be back out in the community with your health care providers, friends and family.
The Living Life to the Full Team