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Tips To Get Rid of the Lockdown Boredom!

lockdown boredomRight now, you’re probably experiencing a lot of boredom being in lockdown for this long. No doubt that we’re all dealing with it the best way we can as most of us aren’t used to being idle at home. Another way to look at this is that you get to spend more time with family! So, instead of getting anxious about this situation, let’s see how we can turn all that idle time into something productive! 

8 Ideas To Drive Away The Lockdown Boredom 

  1. Start Your Skincare Routine: Instead of staring at screens all day, give your eyes some rest and your skin some relaxation! Try out homemade masks, ice packs, scrubs 3-4 times a week or intensify your night skin routine. 
  2. Cover Your Sleep Debt and take more rest. Sleep for an extra hour and you can ask everyone at home to do the same. If you’re wondering what sleep debt is, read this article: https://goqii.com/blog/tips-to-sleep-better/
  3. Awaken Your Inner Chef: Trust me, it’s a pleasurable experience. If you want some easy, healthy recipes, check out the articles we’ve published so far on Healthy Reads. Take charge of the kitchen and toss up something yummy! 
  4. Tune In to Tune Out: Update your music playlist and move to the groove while doing your household chores. Have an instrument lying around? Pick it up and learn to play! We’re going to be starting some music classes on GOQii Play so keep an eye and ear out for that. 
  5. Game More: Playing cards, housie, name-place-animal-thin, antakshari, karaoke – the possibilities are endless when you think of it. Nothing like the good old games to bring your family together and drive away the boredom clouds of gloom! 
  6. Re-arrange Your Cupboard: Cupboards are never too tidy. Probably iron your clothes, separate old and new clothes. Keep aside some clothes which you think you can donate. It will keep you occupied and help you declutter for sure! 
  7. Meditate! Meditate! Meditate: Say Aum from your Home! Organize a family meditation hour. You can tune in to GOQii’s Guided Meditation feature in the app or follow our experts on GOQii Play for a session full of bliss, relaxation and who knows – possibly enlightenment too! You can also practice Pranayama and other Breathing Techniques. 
  8. Develop a Healthy Habit: Working on ourselves is a continuous process. It’s the right time to develop a healthy habit or discontinue a bad one. Probably you could start reading, do a mobile detox or take your home workouts to the next level.  

There are many ways you can beat boredom at home. What are you doing to keep boredom away? Let us know in the comments below. 

For more on nutrition, exercise, meditation and recipes – in fact, most of the tips above can all be found on GOQii Play. Download the app now! 

Stay home, stay safe and #BeTheForce 

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Can Regular Exercise Prevent COVID-19?

exerciseApart from all the preventive measures we can take against COVID-19, should exercise be considered one of them? Can regular exercise actually protect us against COVID-19? Some might agree whereas others might not. In 1998, a large study showed that mild to moderate exercise performed about 4-5 times a week reduced the risk of dying during the Hong Kong flu outbreak. Could it be the same for COVID-19? Let’s find out! 

Some Points to Consider

  1. Indulging in regular exercise, mild to moderate, for 30-40 minutes, for 4-5 days a week of your own choice whether it is aerobics, dancing, Zumba, push-ups, squats, Pilates, etc. lifts up mood by releasing dopamine and serotonin (happy hormones) which is critical when faced with the challenge of staying inside with limited resources. 
  2. Exercising regularly can lower and keep your blood sugar level and blood pressure maintained, as people with these medical conditions are at high risk of getting infected with the coronavirus and other infections.
  3. Research shows that exercise can influence the body’s immune system, which is of utmost importance while fighting against infections and viruses. 
  4. Exercise helps you sleep better and manage stress better, which can both be difficult when schedules are disrupted.
  5. It can reduce the risk of other chronic diseases like heart problems, kidney failure, cancer etc.

Bottom Line 

Not much research has been done on COVID-19. At this point in time, it is best to follow WHO guidelines and take necessary measures such as eating right, exercising regularly, maintaining proper hygiene, managing stress and getting good quality sleep. Remember that whatever the disease may be, prevention is always better than cure. 

For more information on this topic, on building immunity and for home workouts, tune in to experts on GOQii Play or read more articles on Healthy Reads. 

Stay home, stay safe, get active and #BeTheForce! 

 

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How To Stop the Virus Spreading Through Objects

objectsThey say prevention is better than cure, more now than ever! With the coronavirus pandemic spreading, it is important to take every preventive measure possible. The transmission of this virus mainly spreads from person to person through tiny droplets that float in the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Other than direct contact with an infected person, any surfaces or objects around an infected person can also play a role in transmitting infection.

As we are all facing lockdown, we still go out to buy essential items like grocery, fruits, veggies and medicines. If you work in the essential goods and services industry, you must be going out every day. So you need to be more cautious than others. Here are a few ways in which you can sanitize your home to stop the spread of the virus, in case you were to bring it home. 

1. Disinfect ‘High Touch’ Objects and Surfaces Frequently:

  • Any household cleaners containing at least 70% alcohol are good for disinfecting door knobs & handles. Just spray & leave for 5 minute to kill germs.
  • Commercial cleaning products can expose you & your family to toxic chemicals so kitchen countertops and other objects made of glass or wood can be cleaned using undiluted white vinegar. Just clean the counter with a clean cloth & spray enough vinegar to leave the countertop damp and air dry. Baking soda mixed with water can also be used to create a mild abrasive cleaner for greasy spots and stains on marble. However, a warm soapy solution will also work on such surfaces.
  • For switchboards and electric devices,  you can make your own vinegar solution to clean. Just mix 2 parts white vinegar, 1 part rubbing alcohol and 1 part hydrogen peroxide. Spray this solution onto a cloth or paper towel and wipe switches and other electrical devices. For mobile phones you can use 70% alcohol based solution & apply it to your phone using a microfiber cloth.
  • For cars and its interior, any alcohol based cleaner or soap water can be used. Never use any kind of bleach, ammonia based products or hydrogen peroxide as it can damage interiors made of plastic & vinyl.

2. Practice Segregation: Keep things like wallets, currency, bags, footwear and other things like keys & debit cards which you usually carry outside separate from other things.

3. Disinfect Immediately: Once you enter home from the outside, immediately wash your hands, change your clothes and disinfect the mask you used. If the mask is made of cloth, wash it thoroughly. Make sure the person handling such clothes should wash their hands too.

4. Don’t Share If You Care: Do not share linens like handkerchiefs, towels, utensils and other intimate things with other family members.

5. Don’t Touch Your Shopping Bags and items you shop if you really don’t need them immediately or use them only after disinfecting. Fruits and vegetables can be used after washing under a cold water stream (& scrubbing with a brush for some vegetables) or by soaking them in water & vinegar mix for a few minutes. Use ½ cup vinegar for every 2 cups of water. Salt or baking soda mix water can also be used for reducing bacteria & pesticides.

We still don’t know how sunlight, heat or cold can affect its survival time. But hopefully, as time passes, experts will learn more about the spread and transmit of COVID-19. Meanwhile, try to be proactive about sanitizing to give yourself the best shot at avoiding and spreading it. 

For more prevention tips and articles on coronavirus, check out healthy reads. You can also tune in to GOQii Play for LIVE classes by experts. 

Stay Home, Stay Safe and #BeTheForce 

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Cleaning Tips to Keep Household Germs at Bay

cleaning tipsAs the battle between you and germs continues during this coronavirus pandemic, it becomes so important to even keep household germs at bay! In fact, cleaning and disinfecting your house can help you keep colds, flu and other infections from spreading. Believe it or not, your house has certain hotspots where germs meet. Here are some cleaning tips which will help you keep those germs away! 

Cleaning Tips For a Germ-Free House! . 

  1. Sanitize Your House: Cleaning certain areas of the house like bathroom surfaces and kitchen countertops with soapy water isn’t always effective but a bleached based cleaner can do the trick! Bleach kills illness-causing microorganisms by attacking the proteins that make up the bacteria, algae, etc. This causes the proteins to unfold and break apart which leads to the death of the microorganism. You can use bleach-based disinfectant but with proper safety measures by wearing mask, gloves, goggles and also avoid marble surfaces.
  2. Keep Common Areas Clean: Find out areas or things which are frequently used or touched like handles, doorknobs, taps, toilet handles, railings, etc. and clean them with disinfectant to prevent the spread of germs. Bacteria or viruses can live on these surfaces for days or even weeks.
  3. Bedding & Hand Towels: When your bed is not in use, cover it with a bedspread to avoid dust particles from accumulating on the bed sheet and pillows. Change your sheets once every 3-4 days to maintain hygiene. Wash things such as blankets, cushion covers and hand towels which are used regularly by people at home. 
  4. Allow Cross-Ventilation: There should be proper ventilation in all rooms. Keep windows and doors open for some time during the day, preferably in the morning. If someone is sick at home, don’t keep the windows closed as it will keep germs in the house for longer. Windows should be open for circulation and fresh air. You can also keep some air-purifying plants at home.  
  5. Clean Hotspots: You can use homemade all-purpose disinfectant to keep your home germ free. Disinfect your doorknobs, toilet handles, laptops, doorbell, computer keyboards, remote controls, phones, and your kids’ toys regularly.
  6. If you have a home office, study or work desk: where you spend long hours during the day, it is important to keep that area clean as well. Again, cross-ventilation is essential. Make sure you have a hand sanitiser and there isn’t much clutter around. The more organised the space, the easier it is to clean. Use cleaning wipes to clean your laptop, keyboard, mouse and dust other gadgets regularly. It is a good idea to keep your books inside a shelf to avoid them collecting dust, and keep electronics covered with a cloth when they are not in use.
  7. Dry Out: Make sure your sponges and cleaning rags don’t become sources for the very germs you want removed. To prevent spreading additional germs, thoroughly wash and dry out your cleaning sponges, dish towels, etc.

How To Make Your Own Disinfectant 

You can get rid of germs by cleaning surfaces with soap and hot water but sometimes, that isn’t sufficient. There are many disinfectants which are available in the market but they are often filled with chemicals which aren’t very effective on germs. Let’s look at some homemade disinfectants to keep your house germ-free!

a. All Purpose Disinfectant: This versatile disinfectant can be used for doorknobs, handles, water taps, microwave, refrigerator, etc. All you need to do is mix the below ingredients and store the mixture in a spray bottle. Then, you can just spray it on the surfaces and wipe down to clean.  

    • 3 cups (705 ml) of water
    • 1 cup (235 ml) of vinegar
    • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of lemon juice
    • 10 drops lemon essential oil

b. Using Bleach: Soap and hot water removes dirt and kills a few germs. It’s usually enough for many surfaces but if you want to disinfect areas that are home to a lot of germs such as kitchen countertops, bathroom surfaces, etc., you need something stronger. Mix up to 3 teaspoons of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Never pair bleach with ammonia or vinegar. Apply it and leave it on the surface for 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse and let air-dry to save time or dry with a clean towel.

We hope these cleaning tips help you keep household germs at bay! Do you have any special cleaning methods you use? Do share them with us in comments below. 

The GOQii App has some amazing features to help you battle the coronavirus. Download the app now! 

Stay home, stay safe and #BeTheForce! 

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