How to stop being a couch potato and return to health habits after the pandemic year

With our normal routines thrown out the window and the prospect of spending the entire day in your pyjamas becoming increasingly appealing, it is more important than ever to return to healthy habits after the pandemic year.

The US is in far different shape today than it was last Memorial Day, and many Americans are, too. According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, undesired changes in weight driven by pandemic stress are widespread: 42 per cent of adults reported gaining weight, with a median weight gain of 15 pounds, while 18 per cent reported undesired weight loss. About 66 per cent of people reported changes in their sleep habits, and 23 per cent of respondents reported an increase in alcohol use. In addition, many people have delayed routine medical and dental maintenance: Think mammograms, childhood immunisations and teeth cleaning. There’s also a mental health pandemic underway in parallel with increased substance use, which must also be addressed.