Caring for yourself during circuit breaker measures

With the current stricter measures imposed for social distancing and most working from home, here are some tips on how to stay positive and keep fit whilst indoors during COVID-19.

Having a well-balanced diet is the best way to stay healthy. You should continue to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, with an adequate amount of protein and nutrients. Junk food intake should be limited. Foods such as instant noodle, instant fried dishes, and sweets contain a lot of additive ingredients and should be avoided if you have a choice. Cooking some meals with simple recipes will be a good start. It is also wise to develop a meal plan, for example prepare a weekly meal plan in advance for your family. This will also help to ease and organise the process of groceries purchasing, whether online or in the markets.

This might be the perfect time for you to start exploring a new hobby. Think of those activities that you have always wanted to try but not had the time. You can try your hand at art, baking, cooking, dancing, singing, learning a new IT skill, and so many more! Although physical lessons are not available, there are a number of online resources available where you can self-learn at your own pace. Indulging your time in a new hobby or skill is not only productive, but also helps to recuperate from your usual busy work or daily life schedule.

Instead of being a couch potato or sitting in front of your computer for long hours, set an alarm for regular breaks with some simple exercises that can be done at home; for example Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, home gym and so on. There are also a number of free online resources and videos available to help motivate you and find the right exercise for you. Physical activities will not only help to overcome the feeling of ‘cabin fever’, but helps to stay healthy and maintain a strong immune system. You can also opt for a quick walk or jog in the park as long as rules permit, but do not forget to keep a safe distance from others!

It is important to maintain cleanliness in your house. Consider to clean high-touch surfaces daily, including door knobs, light switches, remotes, shoe cabinets and etc with NEA approved cleaning agents. A lot of delivery companies have the option of contactless delivery which is important for the safe distancing measures to work. Do not forget to wash your hands with soap and water every time after you touch any delivery parcels, food takeout, or after you come back from a trip for groceries.

As humans we love to socialise with each other. Staying home alone can take a toll on your mental health. Even though we are currently unable to meet friends and extended family members, we should not forget to stay connected with our family and loved ones by planning regular calls or face time sessions. For working parents with young kids, it is a great opportunity to spend time communicating with them through home based learning and to enrich them with educational activities such as reading children’s books online.

Worries about finances and income are understandable in a challenging period like this. With a lot of shopping going online, we have to be wise cyber consumers. Necessary precautions have to be taken; for example, only go to the legitimate website to shop, avoid clicking on suspicious link and always check on other users’ online reviews to prevent being scammed online. Do not be anxious and shop responsibly for food and necessities. This will help each and every one of us to go a long way.

If in any unfortunate event that you become unwell during the stay home period, please seek medical care immediately. If you have any worrying symptoms that need urgent care, please go to a medical clinic or hospital to be accessed in person. For non-urgent medical consultation, you have the option of seeking help online through telemedicine app. For patients with chronic medical conditions, do not stop your chronic medications without doctor’s advice, always check for the option of medicine delivery service with your own GP clinic.