During uncertain times like these, it’s important that we all prioritise our health and fitness. This is especially true for those of us growing (b)older, who need to retain their immunity, mental health and physical mobility. Now that our nation is in lockdown, many of us are confined to our homes, making daily fitness a more difficult task. Luckily, we’re here to help with a few tips and tricks to keep you at your very best.

1. Take a brisk walk… around the house or garden

Contrary to popular belief you can walk around the house or your garden. Many people are adopting the “2km” challenge, in which they do 2km a day in the confines of their own property. If you don’t have a smart watch or fitness tracker, many of today’s smartphones have a step counter to help you keep track of the distance you cover. This is a great way to start the day, or end it off, depending on what you prefer. For some added motivation, throw on a playlist of your favourite music. YouTube and Apple music have great playlist options.

2. Don’t forget about resistance exercises

Resistance training is good for muscle strength and retaining mobility. Whilst these are normally performed with light weights and resistance bands, grocery staples like tinned food, bags of rice and bottles of water are a great alternative. If you’re looking for a wonderful 20-minute workout, click here.

3. Eat well and stay hydrated

Over this time, it’s common for our emotions to get the better of us. This means we reach for certain foods that we often wouldn’t. Whilst it’s okay to enjoy a comfort meal every now and again, we should all be eating fresh, healthy, whole foods during lockdown. Our diets impact our health and our moods, so it is important to make sure that we eat in a way that’s in the best interest of both. If you’re looking for some nutrition inspiration, apps like Noom are a good way to monitor what you eat. Don’t forget your grains for fibre, fresh fruit and vegetables for vitamins and minerals and enough water to stay hydrated. Without enough water, you risk damage to your kidneys, something that is tough to rectify in later years.

4. Keep in touch with those close to you

We might be separated geographically but that doesn’t mean we can’t still keep in touch. A daily chat or video call with an old friend or family member is a wonderful way to keep your spirits up. There are even free apps like Houseparty that allow you to interact with several members of the family at once. You can also play games together too. This is a great opportunity to catch up, laugh together and make sure you’re still connected. Other options for entertainment include online games like chess and scrabble that can be played with others digitally. https://poki.com/en/board

5. Talk to someone if you need help

At a time like this, those who struggle with anxiety, loneliness and depression can really feel the pressure. It’s important to remember that mental health is a priority too. If you have a loved one that is prone to any of the above, reach out to them daily. Your message could be the only one that they receive that day. If you are prone yourself, get help if you feel like things are becoming too much. Organisations like the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) are always ready to take your call. 011 234 4837. Sharing uplifting, humourous content on your own social media is a good way to make others smile. At a time when many are sharing bad news, why not be the person who inspires a few smiles?

Be gentle on yourself, we’re all in this together

At Renishaw Hills, our community means a great deal to us. For many of our residents, it was what sold them on the idea of choosing us. During this period, we are doing our best to support them however we can. The residents of our village are standing at their front doors each morning at 8am to wave to each other and see their friends. This is testament to the tight-knit community we’ve built here. Our team are also hard at work generating new ways to reach out to our community whilst staying in line with lockdown regulations. One example is our Facebook live concert with resident Terry Smith. Through the power of music, we can stay united. Together, we know we can get through this.

Over this time, we wish all of our residents, their loved ones and the South African public safety and health.