By Vinit Kapahi, Head of Marketing, Aviva India
The impact of pandemic-related restrictions has made working from home a usual setting for most people. Working from home seems fun for a day or two but prolonged work from home may take a toll on health. In May 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) found that long working hours have been increasing deaths from heart disease and stroke. We are all aware working remotely is one of the effective measures to avoid the spread of the virus, we cannot forego it and hence it is important to take into consideration the problems being faced and take measures to take care of our health.
This World Heart Day, Vinit Kapahi, Head of Marketing, Aviva India suggests ways to take care of your heart in the prevailing work from the home era.
- Eat Healthy
What you eat affects your body so having a healthy diet is a must to ensure a healthy heart. Ensure your diet comprises nutritious foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products. While you might be tempted to grab a handful of chips or some chocolate to binge on while working. It is for your own greater good to replace these snacks with dry fruits and fruits.
- Take out some time to exercise
Everyone is bogged down by work and hectic schedules, but it is critical to engage in a moderate workout regularly. Even if you can’t include an extensive workout in your routine, throughout your workday, look for reasons to stand up and move, yoga and simple exercises like sit-ups, push-ups don’t need any equipment are also less time consuming and effective exercises. Walking has been shown to improve mood, stimulate creativity, and enhance focus, making it an all-around win for your health and productivity.
- Take breaks
To quote multiple authors, “Take a break, before you break!” Sitting in the same posture for hours together will do no good to your body. Walking from one room to the other to have a quick chat with family members can do wonders in maintaining a healthy heart. For professions involving a lot of screen time, it always helps to set a timer for a break to disconnect at regular intervals, take a short walk, stretch, drink water or green tea before getting back to work.
- Avoid Overworking and stressing
Mental health and physical well-being are linked with each other. With the pandemic, situations can easily get overwhelming. Too much stress increases the activity in an area of the brain that processes emotions, causing strain on the heart, which creates a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Try to manage your stress level by practicing yoga and meditation. Small steps like these each day can lead to big strides toward better heart health.
- Take some time to learn more about your heart health
It is best to take charge of your health and take precautions. When it comes to heart-related issues, people tend to ignore mild symptoms and, in some cases, they are not visible. So, taking out some time and learning more about your heart’s health is necessary. Small steps like keeping a check on blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol levels and getting to know the family history of heart-related issues, scheduling full body checkups, are great ways to start.
- Be financially prepared
In today’s fast-paced world, one should always be prepared for uncertainties. While it can be hard to predict a heart-related issue but getting insurance to attain a healthy heart and secured future, is of utmost importance. Liquidity is another problem people are facing now so, one should invest in comprehensive insurance plans to protect oneself from medical exigencies. It is suggested to be futuristic in picking investment options and opt for insurance plans that offer coverage against cardiovascular conditions and allows lump-sum pay-out irrespective of the cost of treatment.
Working from home is a big change, and it can take time to get used to the shift in your lifestyle. The best way to go about it is to make small changes and stay consistent to see a positive effect in the long run. The chances are that your colleagues, friends, or family might also be working from home: check in with them and share tips to take care of their heart’s health.
