Inside Scoop:  Here are the top seven wellness hacks to try at-home during the coronavirus pandemic.

As the on-going COVID-19 landscape continues to evolve, it’s important to keep your health at the forefront of your mind.

It can be easy to fall off track when you’re stuck at home and have a million other responsibilities to tend to, however, there are still several ways to prioritize your health throughout this global pandemic! Just follow these seven at-home wellness hacks!

7 At-Home Wellness Hacks

WORK TO REVIVE YOUR COMPLEXION

With the change in seasons, your skin is likely to experience some shifts as well. Specifically, your skin tends to become more oily in the warmer seasons due to factors like more humidity in the air and increasing temperature levels.

In turn, this causes your body to naturally produce more sweat in an attempt to cool you down, leading to a boost in sebum production or oil in your skin.

To counter this, you can first solidify a skin-care routine that you’ll be able to maintain even during the coronavirus chaos.

Within this routine, it’s important to exfoliate once a week to buff away any dead skin as well as implement a skincare treatment with retinol to revive your complexion. Retinol not only helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but also combats acne, and improves the overall texture and tone of your appearance. This skincare staple will make it easy to refresh and renew your skin and ultimately address any unique skin concerns you may be experiencing.

It’s also a good idea to invest in a humidifier or facial steamer. This will help to rehydrate your skin and boost circulation, as well as soften the skin by opening up your pores and releasing any built-up dirt, sebum, and other bacteria that normally lead to blemishes.

SWITCH UP YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE

There’s no question that the coronavirus has affected our lives in more ways than one. But, while it can be difficult to adjust to your new normal, it’s essential to take steps to overcome the hurdles caused by this pandemic and find your new routine.

Take staying active, for instance. Switching up your fitness routine while you’re stuck at home is crucial for both your physical and mental well-being as it not only provides you with a sense of normalcy, but it serves to support your body from the inside-out.

Instead of trying to force in a workout at an inconvenient time, make it into something you actually look forward to.

With your altered schedule, it may make sense to do something physical in the morning before your day starts. This can include activities like practicing yoga, going for a walk, or even following a simple at-home video. You can also take advantage of seasonal activities such as swimming, hiking, and more!

STAY HYDRATED

Being trapped at home all day can make anyone go a little stir-crazy. Feeling restless, anxious, or just plain bored are common concerns the majority of us are experiencing at this time. 

And while the ways in which we cope with these emotions may differ from person-to-person, most commonly, people take comfort in sugary, high-calorie foods and drinks. Poor dietary habits can wreak havoc on your health, which is why staying hydrated, along with eating a well-balanced diet, must become integral parts of your at home wellness hacks.

Staying properly hydrated helps with digestion, delivers oxygen throughout the body, aids in weight loss, and boosts energy. 

That said, be sure to drink at least eight, 8oz glasses of water and add an additional glass for every sugary beverage you have. You can also keep yourself motivated to drink more by downloading an app that reminds you to drink water throughout the day.

FRESHEN THE AIR

The transition from winter to spring usually involves a good seasonal clean for most people, but now, with a contagious virus taking the nation by storm, spring cleaning is no longer optional, it’s necessary. 

That doesn’t just mean replacing your cozy sweaters with cool tank tops, it also means taking preventative measures in and outside of your home to ensure you remain protected from the coronavirus.

Being in stuffy environments with germs and bacteria isn’t good for your health. Besides keeping up with your weekly chores, using Clorox wipes, and washing your hands on a regular basis, it’s also a good idea to  freshen the air during this time. 

The most natural way to do this is by placing indoor plants in your house as these can naturally purify the air. Beyond this, you can also purchase an air purifier or an essential oil diffuser as these devices serve to continuously rid the air of dust, bacteria, and more.

PRACTICE MINDFULNESS

It’s easy to be swept up into the stress of the coronavirus. Between the nationwide shutdown, the constant news updates, and tragic COVID-19 reportings, it’s hard not to fall into the depths of despair.

Nevertheless, it’s imperative that you work on techniques to maintain your inner peace. Begin by practicing active listening when communicating with your friends or family as this helps you stay present and in the moment. 

Additionally, performing relaxing, self-care rituals such as meditation or deep breathing exercises are simple, yet effective ways to practice mindfulness daily. What activities you choose to perform is entirely up to you, as long as they serve to ease your mind and support your health, that’s all that matters. 

Finally, try to practice mindfulness by balancing your “shoulds” and “needs.” You don’t need to do everything even though you may feel you should be. Your chores can wait a day if you’re not up to completing them. You don’t need to go to make dinner every night, even if you feel like you should.

Focus on what feels necessary to you and what you feel like you could give up. Use this information to determine which at-home wellness hacks you’d like to mainly prioritize at this time.

MAKE AT-HOME WELLNESS A TEAM EFFORT

Let’s face it; asking for help and being vulnerable with others is already challenging and uncomfortable to begin with, but now, with all the social distancing and self-isolation, it’s become that much harder. As a result, many of us may feel alone or emotionally drained from all of the COVID-19 news, causing our mental health to fall to the wayside during these times. 

But, what if you learned that communicating with your loved ones may actually work to prevent this from happening? 

Regardless of whether you decide to open up about your internal struggles or not, being there for other people serves to support the well-being of both you, and the friend, family member, or co-worker you’re speaking to! 

So, make at-home wellness a team effort. Even though in-person meetups may be limited, for the time being, staying connected should still be a priority to you. In doing so, you’ll be able to sustain long-lasting relationships with others, all while improving you, and your loved one’s overall well-being.

DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP

Sometimes you’ll overindulge or get off track, but this is okay! Forgetting to hydrate once in a while is okay. Skipping out on your skincare or your at-home fitness routine every now and again is okay. 

Although it’s easier said than done, try not to get discouraged or beat yourself up on your off days. Remember, these at-home wellness hacks are only there to help you improve, not to bring you down.  After all, you’re only human, and like the rest of us, you can afford to take a little break here and there.