I recently turned 50, and I’m grateful for all the lessons life has taught me.

Life dramatically for me when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in 2020. Since then, I have witnessed lockdowns, economic meltdowns, work-from-home scenarios, travel bans and more. Besides these, the pandemic made me realise the value of family and the importance of maintaining good mental and physical health. The global outbreak resulted in the closure of gyms, stadiums, pools and fitness studios, which meant many individuals could not actively take part in their regular individual or group fitness activities outside of their homes. This meant a lot of us had less physical activity, had longer screen time, irregular sleep patterns as well as poor diets, resulting in weight gain and poorer mental health.

Here are some of the health lessons the pandemic taught me:

Eat Healthy To Be Fit: Good health mainly comes from what we consume on a day-to-day basis. When people were falling sick or feeling weak after getting infected with the virus, we realised how important it is to eat healthy every day. Healthy food, like fresh veggies and fruits, fibre, lean proteins and whole grains, also helped expedite recovery in many. Hence, we must include lots of healthy foods in our diet to prevent nutrient deficiencies and build strong immunity.

Exercise Is A MUST: We also realised that regular physical activity and exercise are fundamental to our overall health. Besides managing weight and blood cholesterol levels, exercise helps ease the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular conditions and cancer. Exercise also strengthens our bones, joints and muscles and reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis. Also, it has also a positive effect on our mood, energy levels and sleep quality. Walking, jogging, aerobics, swimming and dancing are some exercises you can try out.

Housework Is Good For Your Mental Health: While no one really likes to do household chores, they help us maintain good health. Tasks like sweeping, dusting, washing the windows, cooking, and more are great for physical and mental wellbeing. As per experts, people who engage themselves in household work regularly are at a lower risk of suffering from chronic diseases, accidental falls, and immobility as they get older.

Walk More: Thanks to restrictions on public and private transport during the pandemic, we understood the importance of walking short distances. Walking more not only promotes heart health and fitness but also improves mood, self-esteem and sleep quality.

Home-Cooked Meals Are The Best: This is probably the most important health lesson learnt in 2021. When eateries were shut down during the pandemic, we ate more fresh and wholesome home-cooked meals instead of junk and high-calorie foods. Studies have shown that when we prepare meals at home, we make healthier choices. We also tend to use less oil and opt for healthy cooking methods like boiling, baking and grilling. Home-cooked foods help boost energy levels, keep weight in check, and promote our overall wellbeing.

Sleep is Essential: During the pandemic, with bans on night outs and parties, we were going to bed on time and sleeping better. This is when we understood how a good night’s sleep can change our physical and mental health for the better. Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule also improves productivity and overall quality of life.

How You Manage Stress Is Important: The year 2021 and the pandemic also made us realise the importance of dealing with stress efficiently. When family members were getting infected and things were looking scary, stress levels shot up. Hence, it is important to practice meditation and do yoga or any kind of exercise regularly. These activities can help boost mental health and alleviate stress levels.

Value Your Loved Ones: We often get too busy with our lives and hardly spare any time for our loved ones. The pandemic made us realise how uncertain life can be and the importance of spending more time with our family. Besides this, we also understood that the support of our loved ones play an important role in dealing with stress and promoting mental wellbeing.

Although the year 2021 was rough because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it did teach us many crucial lessons related to health and lifestyle. The pandemic provided us with the time and environment for self-reflection and made us realise the importance of maintaining good mental and physical health. Wishing you all the best in 2022.