As we think back over the last year one thing seems to be apparent – the pressures and stressors of 2021 have seriously disrupted our normal routines. That frequent disruption of our daily schedule has caused a drifting from some of our basic GOOD habits that helped us. After talking with hundreds of patients, it seems like most of us have drifted in some specific areas of life. I have included those areas below with some tips on how to get Back to the Basics!
1.Sleep – stress and changing daily routines have altered many of our normal sleep schedules. We know how important sleep is…but we often don’t give it the priority that we need to restore our physical and mental strength. Below are the top tips to restore sleep.
- Go to bed the same time throughout the week.
- “Mind over Mattress” – try and get up at first alarm in the morning – set it across the room and be consistent.
- Work to Kick the dogs and little kids out of your room…countless studies show the negative impact on sleep with having animals and squirming kids in our beds.
2.Exercise – with many gyms initially shutting down, or our exercise partners on countless quarantines, it’s obvious that many of our exercise routines have been disrupted. Get back to the basics by simply being consistent with exercise you enjoy 2-3 days a week!
- Get an exercise buddy to help with accountability.
- Start simple – maybe just 2 walks or jogs a week.
- Exercising 2-3 days a weeks for 45 minutes at a time is enough for well – rounded physical fitness.
- Include cardio, flexibility, and strength components.
3.Take time for healing - Heal injured or Broken areas of your body. Many people have been unable to get into doctors or keep up with Physicals during this last year. Also, decreased physical activity, stress, and inability to seek out help have all contributed to persistent injuries and pain.
- If you hurt for more than a few weeks – it is NOT normal. Seek out professional advice for your pain or injury before it becomes something major.
- Don’t believe that, “There is nothing more that can be done.” I hear that all to often, and there are many NEW technologies and strategies to help with pain now!
We encourage you to start down the path of physical wellness by putting one foot in front of the other this year. It’s not easy, but health is a noble pursuit and one of the best investments we can make for our future. Let’s work together to get back to the basics of health. If pain, dizziness, weakness, or difficulty with mobility is slowing down, please call our office to schedule a free consultation to see how we may be able to help you!
Christopher Bailey, DPT