Back to School or Work Health Tips

Deb February 6, 2024

Things have been all over the place for the last couple of years. I haven’t been working with clients very much, as I’ve been committed elsewhere. I’ve put a bit more time into exercise classes for seniors and have recently been working with the Brooklyn Wellness Hub.

This is an article I initially wrote for their blog and for the Brooklyn Tattler.

Holiday time is a good opportunity to rest and recuperate. But how can we carry that forward into the new school or work year?

Get enough sleep

Easier said than done sometimes, especially during daylight savings. But adequate sleep makes a huge difference to how we feel. If you have trouble sleeping, make good “sleep hygiene” a priority as often as possible. Aim to:

  • Avoid stimulants after mid evening – including coffee, tea, chocolate, intense exercise

  • Spend an hour or two before bed winding down – no computer or devices, but reading or a little TV is fine

  • Have your bedroom dark and at a comfortable temperature

  • Go to bed at the same time each night, and ideally get up at the same time

Nourish Your Body

With the current cost of living, eating well might be another challenge, but some of the guidelines to aim for are:

  • Drink water instead of soft drinks

  • Minimise eating out and takeaways in favour of cooking at home (see my recipe blog for ideas, if this is new for you)

  • Eat real food instead of processed foods

  • Which real foods you choose will depend on what works for your body, so start noticing how different foods make you feel

Keep your body moving

Let’s not call it exercise, as that sounds boring or hard work. Think instead of what activities you enjoy, and what can fit into your day. If you’re fit and able, there are many things you can do, including walking, going to classes, playing sports, or accessing fitness videos online. If you can only exercise sitting down, there are still options. In Wellington, there are a few different seated exercise classes including pilates, yoga, dance style mobilisation exercises and spin poi. (See my exercise website for my current classes and a lot of online resources.)

Take a few moments each day to de-stress

We all need “Me” time to recharge. It doesn’t have to be a long period of time, but see if you can schedule some every day. This could be meditation or prayer, sitting quietly in nature, 10 minutes reading a book, listening to music that relaxes you, or 15 minutes quietly enjoying cup of tea. (One rule here though – no computer or devices – the aim is to enjoy your own company.)

Have fun!

Hopefully you have had some fun with your movement or your Me time. But also take time to schedule some fun activities with your partner, family or friends.