Celebrating World Health Day

Living Magazines World Health Day

It’s World Health Day today and this year’s theme is celebrating the work of nurses and midwives in keeping the world healthy. Nurses and other health workers are at the forefront of COVID-19 response and we can support them by staying at home, following the #clapforcarers campaign and keeping well, for example.

Being proactive with your wellbeing is more important than ever in these unprecedented times so Tringite Philippa Taylor of feelfabnaturally.com today shares some simple biohacking tips for self-care:

  • After you wash your hands (and that’s bound to be a lot at the moment!), take three deep breaths to help you focus on the present.
  • Sit somewhere green, and be quiet for a few minutes.
  • Carve out 20 minutes for a daily leisure activity you enjoy to help you manage your stress levels.
  • Go for a short walk around the house or garden after every meal or snack – those steps will soon add up!
  • Did you know that the simple act of walking barefoot helps connect us to Mother Earth’s subtle electrical charge? Barefoot walking helps keep our circadian rhythms — which regulate body temperature, hormone secretion, digestion and blood pressure, among other things — synchronised with the day/night cycle. The free or mobile electrons from the earth can also help resolve chronic inflammation by serving as natural antioxidants. Alternatively, you can improve your sleep and energy levels with an evidence-based and natural way to make your own antioxidants again.
  • Have a good laugh – check out some comic strips or watch a funny clip on YouTube.
  • Make one small change to your diet for the week. Drink an extra glass of water each day, or have an extra portion of veggies each meal.
  • Put on your favourite upbeat song and shake your booty.
  • Health is the new wealth so support your cellular health and wellbeing using the latest scientific breakthroughs.
  • Try ‘worry time’: Schedule 15 minutes of daily ‘worry time’, parking all anxieties until then. When the time comes round, you may find you don’t want to worry. If you do, ask yourself, is this something I can do something about? If the answer is no, park the worry. If the answer is yes, ask, ‘What is the first step?’
  • Keep connected with others online or by phone and make an effort to talk about other subjects.
  • Stretch out the kinks by stretching your body.
  • Aim to have drunk at least 500ml of water by noon in order to stay on track with your 1.5 litres-per-day goal. Infuse it with lemon, ginger, mint or berries and set reminders on your phone throughout the day.
  • Take a break from the news: Try limiting your news consumption to twice a day from a reputable source e.g. the BBC.
  • Do the pillow droop test if you wake up with a stiff neck or shoulders: check it out with other sleep tips from a Professor of Sleep Science here.