We are fast approaching spring. Depending on where you are reading this, the sun may already be shining and the temperatures are hitting the upper 60s or even the 70s!
After a year of quarantine, many of us are finally in the position to start making plans for activities outside the home under the advisement of our primary care physician.
However, it might take some time to get back to where we once were, both as a society and as individuals. If you’re the kind of person who regularly went to the gym before everything shut down, chances are you’re not as fit as you once were. The garden outside also likely needs some attention. Here’s the best healthy living checklist for how to proceed into spring 2021.
Make a Reasonably Ambitious Fitness Plan
Hopefully, you’ve found ways to remain active during the previous year, but if your fitness regimen has slipped, it’s time to make a plan to amend this.
Start by getting active for 150 minutes each week. This includes light cardio exercise (walking and biking.) From there, get into strength training (yoga and weight training) slowly and surely, gradually increasing the difficulty of the effort.
If you’ve had a particularly slow year of it during quarantine, make sure to give yourself a little extra time to adjust. Drink lots of water, get enough protein and other nutrients, and sleep for eight or more hours each night.
Don’t overdo it and hurt yourself!
Prepare for Seasonal Allergies
If you’re like most of us, you suffer at least some degree of seasonal allergies when winter turns to spring. Don’t let painful sinuses and difficulty breathing ruin your sleep and cloud your head. These products will give you natural relief, whether you’re mowing the lawn or dusting the house.
- Aller-C from Vital Nutrients is a natural allergy relief support supplement with a combination formula to moderate the immune system response.
- Allergy Rescue from DesBio is designed to support the temporary relief of minor symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and red, itching, and watery eyes.
- Unda 27 from Unda may help maintain feelings of comfort when swallowing or speaking, and may support a healthy immune response to internal challenges.
Give these supplements a try and see if they may provide the feelings of comfort that you want this spring season.
Take Advantage of Seasonal Nutrition
Fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables at your local farmers’ market and grocery stores are a great bet for getting good nutrition and staying hydrated. Take advantage of what’s available and in season.
Tomatoes and strawberries have a short peak season, so get them while you can. Do a little research to find out what produce is best in your area at which time of the spring and summer.
Anticipate their availability and jump at the chance to get them into your kitchen. Not only will these fruits and veggies taste their best at this time of year, but they’ll also pack the best of their nutritional potential, which will help your health in myriad ways.
Make Plans With Friends
Throughout 2020 and into early 2021, many of us have tried to stay in touch with the people we care about through Zoom calls and the like, but no one would say that these digital means are an adequate substitute for in-person time with friends.
A happy social life benefits the health in many ways, some of which are intangible. When it is safe, start to reach out to friends. Hopefully, before you know it, we’ll be gathering in restaurants and movie theaters like nothing ever happened.
Watch Out for Early Sun Exposure
Spending too much time in the sun after staying indoors for a long time can lead to a greater risk of sunburn. Even spending an hour out in the garden on a sunny day or other activities can lead to dangerous burns.
Invest in high-quality, high-SPF sunscreen now, and apply liberally, especially during early spring outings. When possible, stick to the shade, or only go out in early mornings or late evenings.
There are lots of ways to boost your health in the spring. Follow the tips above and make the most out of this new season!
