As the nation continues to socially distance during the COVID-19 pandemic, Barratt Homes has joined forces with Wessex Heartbeat to highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy routine while self-isolating.
Following the recent announcement that the UK will need to comply to a further lockdown period, the 5-star housebuilder and leading cardiac charity have released guidelines on how to keep mentally and physically healthy – with a particular focus on heart health.
John Munro at Wessex Heartbeat said:
“Hampshire currently has one of the highest rates of infection in the country and, following the advice from the government and Public Health England to self-isolate, it is crucial to raise awareness on the effects that staying indoors can have.
“There is already a huge strain on the nation’s health and social care services, and with those living alone being 50% more likely to access emergency care services*, we cannot afford to over-exert these anymore.”
Tammy Bishop from Barratt Homes added:
“As part of our ongoing commitment to helping the communities we develop in; it is key for us to highlight the importance of staying healthy while self-isolating.
“During the pandemic we have strived to play our part on a local and national scale. This includes giving hundreds of PPE masks to hospitals, to donating 1,000 defibrillators across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight. We hope that the following guidelines can also be of great use to those in need.”
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John Monro shares some vital advice for those who are facing self-isolation, in a bid to help tackle this growing issue:
- Drink plenty of water – Keeping hydrated is crucial for health and well-being, but many people do not consume enough fluids each day, even having a nice cup of tea and having a ten-minute quiet break is very helpful for hydrating the body.
- Exercise – While practicing safe social distancing, going out in the daylight (even if it is cloudy) will be beneficial for your mental health. If you have a garden, walking around the garden, performing gentle aerobic exercises, or skipping with a rope, stepping up and down on a low step are all examples of exercise you can perform safely by yourself. If you have not got a garden, think of an area outside of your house that is safe and where you will not have to be near others and again do some exercises.
- Social Media and Human Interaction – It is really important to still have human interaction, and if you are able to video call friends and family we recommend doing so – it’s quite comforting to still be able to see each other this way, if you can’t do this then pick up the phone.
- Recreational activity – Listen to music, dance, read a book, tackle jigsaws and crosswords, knit, sew, paint, draw, etc to help keep your brain stimulated.
- Positive Thinking – We all need to know what the latest advice regarding coronavirus and self-isolation, but it can also become seriously anxiety-provoking to have it constantly in our ear. Try and watch the news once a day for an update, other than that try not to dwell on the constant streams being put out.
- Eat well, good nutrition and diet is crucial – The best way for you to boost the effectiveness of your immune system is by eating a well-balanced diet and keeping fit overall. Good food also gives you vital vitamins and minerals. Food such as whole grains, fruit and vegetables are important and as much as we like our treats its better to reduce or intake of cakes, biscuits and chocolate, all of course are delicious, but the extra sugar hinders our immune system. Alcohol is another factor that impacts on our immune system, again it is all down to moderation.
Barratt Homes is currently brining new homes to the area through its development Hawthorn Meadows (East Cowes) and St George’s Gate (Newport).
