Tackling lockdown lethargy by looking at your diet.

As part of our ongoing series of articles on tackling lethargy, we’re looking at five ways to help restore more energy during coronavirus.

+ Sleep Health
+ Exercise and Diet
+ Routines and Motivation
+ Things we enjoy
+ Emotional Connection

Healthy Diet, Healthy Mind

It’s been firmly established that physical health and mental health go hand in hand, so making sure that you’re giving your body the energy it needs is an essential part of investing in your own wellbeing.

During the lockdown, lots of the structure of the day has fallen away, exercise is not as easily accessible as perhaps it was, we’re sat working near to the fridge, and even doing a regular food shop can be challenging, so thinking about your diet is important.

Here are a handful of tasty morsels of advice on where to focus your efforts on making sure your diet is designed for keeping a healthy mind, and your energy levels up.

Regularity.

Without a structure to the day, it can be easy to have a late breakfast, skip lunch, eat dinner too late. Try and keep to a routine around your meals, so your blood sugar levels stay consistent, or eat smaller portions more often.

Drink More, Drink Less.

Make sure you’re staying hydrated - lots of water, and reduce the caffeine and alcohol intake where possible. Whilst that first cup of coffee in the morning might get you off to a good start, the following slump can make things harder. There are even studies showing that drinking water may boost your mood. 

Don’t forget your five-a-day.

Even though the exact number seems to keep changing, including at least five portions of different coloured fruit and vegetables make sure your body is getting the essential nutrients. 

Embrace the carbs.

Starchy carbohydrates are a good source of energy, and help sustain energy. Go for the wholegrain and wholemeal options wherever possible.

Proteins and Fatty Acids

Protein like lean meat, chicken, fish and cheese contains amino acids, which help our brains regulate our emotions, and give us energy. Putting protein in your diet in the morning can help you get off to a good start to the day.

Treat Yo’self.

Don’t feel you need to be angelic when it comes to food either - treating yourself to something special is absolutely fine, and really important to have something to enjoy at the moment - just make sure it’s not the only thing you’re eating. Indeed - go a step further and make the treats yourself. Cooking can be a meditative act in its own right.

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There are some amazing resources online, including Mind and NHS, and if you want to go further, there’s a course on Food and Mood from Future Learn.