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All About Digital Detox: Part 1

digital detoxWe all know that a healthy work life balance is not only important for our health & relationships, but it also has a great impact on our productivity & day to day performance. But in the past few years, the inability to separate work from home has massively increased as we are constantly in touch with each other via mobile phones & laptops. During the ongoing pandemic, our gadgets made it easy for us to continue our work from where we are, but with excess usage, it is proving to be detrimental to our physical as well as mental health too. In recent research, it has been found that overuse of gadgets is increasing depression, anxiety & restlessness in people. Now this calls for a break from this tech savvy world through digital detox. Wondering what exactly it is? Let’s find out! 

What Is Digital Detox? 

Digital detox, in simple terms, is a time frame when you voluntarily stay away from your gadgets like smartphones, laptops & social media. It can be whatever you want it to be. One might try giving up usage of all digital devices at once for a specific time period. In other cases, one might just focus on restricting their use of one type of digital device like their smartphone.

Reasons To Do It 

Digital detox can be a way to set limits & reduce following negative outcomes due to heavy usage of devices:

  • While people often feel that spending time with their devices can be a stress buster after a long and tiring day, the truth is that it can greatly contribute to stress.
  • Researchers have proved that prolonged use of devices around bed time can interfere with sleep quality & quantity. It can lead to issues like insomnia, anxiety & shorter sleep duration.
  • Heavy usage of devices can decrease your attention span as they create unwanted distractions.
  • Constant connectivity with the world around, makes us feel disconnected with ourselves & affects work life balance too.
  • Comparison of your life with that of others, based on curated glimpses we see on someone’s instagram or facebook post, can make it hard to be content.
  • Digital connectivity can feed the fear of missing out. It can lead a person to feel that their life is less exciting than others.

Signs That You Might Need It 

  • Feeling anxiety or stress if the phone is not around for a while or when the battery is discharged.
  • Feeling compelled to check the phone every now & then.
  • Depression, anxiety or anger after spending time on social media.
  • Overthinking about likes, comments & shares on social posts.
  • Feeling afraid of missing out on something if the phone is not checked after every few minutes.
  • Inability to resist using the phone till late hours.
  • Trouble concentrating on one thing without having to check the phone.

Does Digital Detox Work? 

Many psychologists & mental health experts agree that digital detox can be a helpful approach to technology overuse. However, one time detox might not help you get back into your groove mentally & emotionally. Rather, it is probably one of the most effective tools if it is used as a way to kickstart a healthier relationship with technology.

Now that’s not all about digital detox. To understand how digital detox helps, what happens to your body & brain during a digital detox and challenges you might face as well as easy ways to do a digital detox, watch out for part 2 of this article! 

We hope this helps you understand what a digital detox is and why it is necessary. For more on wellness and mental health, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play. To get these tips and hacks directly from your GOQii Coach, subscribe to personalized coaching now: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu 

#BeTheForce 

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Basic Home Remedies That Can Help You Recover From The Infection

recover from the infectionThe nasty Coronavirus can have a damaging effect on your body, making it weak, even after months of its occurrence. It mainly causes damage to the lungs as well as other organs. Hence, the body requires time to recover to its formal state. A few common symptoms observed from the infected people include fatigue, loss of appetite and even breathlessness. Even if you have battled the virus, you still need to shower a lot of care and love to your body to ensure complete healing. Here are some home remedies that can help you recover from the infection.

Home Remedies To Recover From The Infection

  1. Take rest: To heal your body, it is important to take enough rest before you resume your old routine. Some doctor’s advise on staying isolated for a period of 7 days as the virus may still remain in your body. Keep a low pace for doing your regular basic routine to prevent fatigue. Your sleep is greatly disturbed at the peak of the infection in the hospital. Stress has an impact on your sleep quality. Try returning to your regular sleep-wake cycle by creating a sleep environment that is free from any disturbances like too much noise or light. Avoid smoking, alcohol and caffeine. To sleep better, you can try having a sleep-inducing drinks like poppy seed-nutmeg milk which can be prepared by mixing a teaspoon of roasted poppy seeds (khus khus) and a pinch of nutmeg in half a cup of warm milk before bedtime.
  2. Eat healthy and nourishing meals: The right kind of meals will help in regaining your strength. Your diet should include good quality proteins such as boiled eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds and lentils that will repair your body. To ease your digestion, you can eat small portions of meals. Include fresh colorful seasonal fruits and veggies that will provide antioxidants and help in speedy recovery. Since your body has been drained, it is important to eat calorie-dense foods rich in healthy carbs such as whole grains, brown rice, sweet potatoes and milk that can boost your immune system and give you energy. Spices and herbs like turmeric powder, basil or tulsi, star anise, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, triphala powder, pepper can be added in your diet to strengthen the immune response and uplift your energy levels.
  3. Stay hydrated: Sip warm water throughout the day that will help soothe your throat. Have a kadha to get rid of congestion, recover faster and keep your immunity strong. To prepare a kadha, boil 1 tsp of carom seeds, ½ tsp organic turmeric powder, a small piece of crushed ginger and a tsp of black pepper in a glass of water. Reduce it to half and drink this concoction post dinner. Take steam inhalation once in a day and do salt water gargles that helps to cleanse your respiratory tract and improve your lung capacity.
  4. Exercise a little daily: Exercising is essential as it improves blood circulation and detoxifies the body. But start with slow, low intensity exercises such as walking by moving around at home, doing seated marching, leg lifts, side bends, forward and backward stretches. Do not push yourself too hard and monitor your breaths while doing any activity. Practice breathing techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing and pursed- lipped breathing which help in enhancing lung capacity. It is also crucial to engage in activities like meditation, spiritual practice or listening to music that can improve your psychological state and reduce stress.

We hope these remedies help you recover from the infection. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more tips on dealing with the COVID-19 infection, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

For more guidance, you can speak with your GOQii Coach by subscribing to GOQii now: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu 

Stay home, stay safe and #BeTheForce

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How To Safely Isolate Yourself At Home

Safely Isolate Yourself At HomeWith COVID-19 still spreading like wildfire and the resulting shortage of medical facilities, people have opted to self-isolate at home. Although hospitals and doctors are best  to help you recover fully, here are some tips which will help you safely isolate yourself at home with your family. 

Who Needs Home Isolation? 

Home isolation is for someone who has tested positive or is suspected to be positive. The purpose here is to recover fully and stop the contagion. Home isolation is not an option for patients who are infected and above 65 years of age or have other comorbidities. They need to be hospitalised in isolated wards. 

What Essentials Will You Need? 

Apart from the basic necessities of water, food, clothing and shelter, a COVID patient needs much more during isolation. A quick list will include:

  • Thermometer – to keep a regular check on body temperature
  • Oximeter – to ensure that your reading is above 90-95%, or else you may need supplemental oxygen.
  • Exhaust or a table fan, working like an exhaust to draw in the fresh air and recycle the virus-laden room air.
  • You will also need your doctor prescribed medications and a smartphone to stay connected with the doctor and your community.

How Can You Safely Isolate Yourself? 

There are a few rules to safely isolate yourself at home with your family in the adjacent room:

  • Recovery happens best during rest. Hence make sure to follow the circadian rhythm and have a good night’s sleep. Wake up and soak in the sunshine to get your dose of vitamin D from your room window.
  • Breathe deeply, do pranayama or follow the Win Hoffman breathing method to strengthen your respiratory system. Sleeping on your stomach allows your lungs to expand fully on the backside. So practice it daily for a few minutes.
  • Drink 2-3 litres of water to flush out the toxins from your body. Include a herbal Kadha in small quantities too. If possible, add lemon juice to it to get in Vitamin C to combat the virus.
  • Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables to load up on antioxidants to fight off the inflammation. Feed the gut bacteria a healthy dose of probiotics to strengthen the immune system. Avoid non-vegetarian food and alcohol during the isolation.
  • Exercise, if you have the strength, to supply oxygen to every cell of your body. Confined within your room, you may just get enough space to do yoga or spot walking.

When Should You End Isolation? 

Generally, 14-17 days are more than enough for home isolation. You need to make sure that you do not have any fever for at least three days before ending the isolation period. Also, it is important to get tested once again to check if you’ve fully recovered. 

Staying isolated at home is a challenging task not just for you but your family too. They feel helpless as they are unable to care for you. And you might feel bogged down with solitary confinement. Nevertheless, you must ensure to follow proper sanitation methods and clean your room. 

We hope this article helps you. For more, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play. 

To get more expert advice on dealing with post-COVID recovery or general health issues, subscribe to GOQii and get in touch with your personal coach now: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu 

Stay home, stay safe and #BeTheForce 

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How to Support Older Adults During the Coronavirus Pandemic

older adultsCurrently, elderly people are vulnerable and at the highest risk of experiencing significant health complications due to the second wave of COVID-19. Being socially isolated also creates a panic, affects mental and physical health of the elderly. Due to the pandemic, most older adults are not able to take walks, exercise and have limited access to their daily healthcare needs. Though social distancing and self quarantine is necessary, it is essential for older adults to feel connected in order to avoid depression or helplessness. Loneliness, anxiety and uncertainty give rise to chronic stress, depression and insomnia in older people.

How Can You Help Older Adults In Your Neighborhood? 

During this time, it becomes important to help older adults in our neighbourhood, especially the ones living alone. Here, I’ll be sharing some tips which families and caregivers can use to keep older adults disease-free, happy and mentally fit! 

  1. If you have parents or grandparents you’re not living with, give them a call to provide regular emotional support. 
  2. Ensure that an older adult’s daily needs and essential requirements like medicines, fruits, food, etc. are taken care of.
  3. Take additional efforts to check and confirm that they are maintaining proper hand and respiratory hygiene. 
  4. Older Adults are more sensitive in the current situation. To safeguard them, it’s better that they should avoid stepping out for any reason as much as possible.
  5. If routine check-ups can be done via phone consultation, please do so. Go to the hospital only when necessary. 
  6. Guide and educate the older adults in your area with the latest updates, precautionary measures, etc. Keep them informed! 
  7. Provide extra care if needed as some of them are on multiple medications due to chronic illnesses and sensory problems such as loss or difficulty in vision, hearing, etc. 
  8. Before self-medication with any drug, please consult a doctor.
  9. Family members need to be super sensitive to the early symptoms of COVID-19 and testing if needed should be promptly done. This, however, should not give rise to panic, self-isolation and stigma.
  10. Psycho-social issues are vital and families need to be sensitive to them. It is natural to be stressed, but signs of excessive panic, depression, sleep problems need urgent attention from a qualified mental health professional.
  11. The elderly need to be involved in decision making even in times of crisis. Their rights, self-respect and dignity must be preserved and protected.

 We hope this article helps. For more information or sessions on helping older adults, tune in to experts on GOQii Play. 

Stay home, stay safe and #BeTheForce  

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

As we observe World Cancer Day under the powerful theme ‘United by Unique’ (2025-2027)**, we are reminded that every individual’s journey with cancer is distinct, yet united by shared resilience, hope, and the collective fight against this disease. This theme places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the […]