Taking Care of Your Physical and Mental Health in Uncertain Times

Now more than ever it’s important for us to band together and support one another. And investing in your well-being can help improve mood and maintain a sense of normalcy in times that are really not normal at all. That’s why Mindbody and Garmin have teamed up to create a list of tips to help you maintain physical and mental health at home.

Staying Active
The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week — or a combination of both. That can seem nearly impossible with many of us sheltering in place, but we have some ideas to keep you moving:

• Yoga helps you destress and focus on breathing. Book virtual yoga on the Mindbody app.
• Pilates helps you maintain flexibility, strength, balance and body awareness. Book virtual Pilates on the Mindbody app.
• Treadmill running gets your legs moving and your heart rate up. You can switch it up with speed intervals, incline and decline, side steps and more.
• Indoor cycling lets you break a sweat and connect with a virtual community. Book virtual cycling on the Mindbody app.
• Outdoor walking and running helps you connect with nature and boost your immune system.
• Partner workouts with a spouse or housemate are a fun, stress-free way to stay motivated and connected.
• In-home challenges such as going up and down steps, laps around the living room or hide-and-seek keep the whole family moving.
• Set up virtual challenges with your friends and family to engage from a distance, such as seeing who can do the most push-ups or hold a plank longer.
• Try dance cleaning to bring fun and cardio to your chores. Turn on your favourite tunes and dance around while you clean every part of your home.
• Create your own scavenger hunt with household items. Make it a little more challenging with clues.
• Work out with your kids or pets … literally. Do goblet squats while holding your toddler or bench press your poodle.

If you have a Garmin Venu, vívoactive 4/4S or fēnix 6, you can download premade, step-by-step workouts here.

Managing Stress
Stress is not just a vague feeling of being overwhelmed, anxious or exhausted. It’s a physiological phenomenon that can be observed and measured. When you are under physical, mental or emotional stress, your body releases a complex mix of hormones and chemicals. This release can cause several reactions, such as increased blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension. When stress becomes chronic, it can lead to both mental and physical issues.

Most Garmin smartwatches measure stress levels based on heart rate variability. If your Garmin device detects periods of high stress, you’ll be prompted to do a guided breathing exercise to help reduce tension, relieve tension and relax.

Getting Enough Sleep
Sleep is essential to maintaining your health. It’s been shown to increase productivity, lower weight gain risk and affect your immune system. Most adults need 7 to 8 hours of good sleep each night, while teenagers need 9 to 10 hours. School-aged children may need 10 or more hours a night.

Advanced sleep monitoring on Garmin devices measures total hours of sleep and tracks different sleep stages: light, deep, REM and awake periods. To help improve your sleep,  experts recommend sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding heavy meals within a couple hours of bedtime and reducing overall stress. Knowing how well you’re sleeping and following these guidelines can not only improve your sleep, but also improve your overall health.

Garmin devices are great tools to help you stay on top of your health while you’re at home, with features to help you keep moving and track your health stats. Find the perfect one for you: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/c10002-p1.html.

While everyone is doing their part to stay isolated and maintain social distancing, remember that we’re all in this together. Whether you follow these tips or have some creative ideas of your own, we hope you all stay safe, healthy and connected during this time.