ALWAYS STAYING INDOORS

 

Staying indoors puts a lot of pressure on the body as well as the mind. After life shifted to working from home, the passive duration increased, and the active hours considerably shrunk. Physical and psychological struggles due to Covid-19 were real, and these had further led to physical ramifications. According to a study conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, social isolation has been associated with a significantly increased risk of premature mortality from all causes, including a 50 per cent increased risk of developing dementia; a 29 per cent increased risk of incident coronary heart disease; a 25 per cent increased risk for cancer mortality; and a 32 per cent increased risk of stroke. Experts believe that while staying home and practicing social distancing were the need of the hour, the prolonged stay indoors could take a toll on our body. 

The recent pandemic had affected mental health in a number of ways. It had created several challenges on people’s personal, professional and financial circumstances. With work from home (WFH) becoming a norm for most of us, including children, who have been robbed of our outdoor activities, people have became more anxious about contracting Covid-19. The fine line between the so-called normal anxiety turning into clinical anxiety disorder was very thin. Such stressful situation could have led to depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia and hypochondriasis in susceptible individuals. Some people resorted to even excessive smoking or alcohol consumption. The commonly encountered behavioural problems were anger outburst, irritability, frustration, inter-personal problems due to spending long hours indoors. Physical health problems such as weight gain, poor control of diabetes or blood pressure, partly due to the lack of exercise and the disruption of outdoor routine.

The most important step was to accept that the pandemic had affected everyone at the same time. We were all no different. The biggest challenge was in managing personal and professional life balance while at home.

The following were some tips to make peace with our mind and body while working from home:-

·         Try to have a routine and structure your day.

·         Have a designated desk in the room and do not choose random working spots at home.

·         Avoid using the bed as your work desk.

·         Take regular breaks and avoid screen time as much as possible.

·         Spend quality time with your family.

·         Exercise regularly.

·         Stick to your sleep routine.

·         Avoid excessive alcohol consumption or smoking.

·         Remain socially connected and ventilate your pent-up emotions.

·         Maintaining a positive mindset is crucial during these testing circumstances.

·         Try and develop a new hobby to avoid boredom.

·         Relaxation techniques, meditation and yoga can also help to manage anxiety and day-to-day stress.

As usual, we remind you to take your Memo Plus Gold daily. It will help to keep you alert and mentally sharp. For more information or to order for Memo Plus Gold, please visit : https://oze.my.