Five ways to prioritise your health during lockdown

We know it has been an uncertain and difficult time for many of us, so we want to make sure people in our communities have the information and support they need to put their health and wellbeing first.

Prioritising staying well during lockdown is the best thing you can do for your mental and physical health – here’s five ways you can do that today:

1. Quit smoking

During the last lockdown, we saw a spike in people visiting our website for information and support on smoking.

We know that stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic may have made it harder for people to quit or stay quit. There is also evidence that people who smoke can experience more severe COVID-19 health outcomes.

No matter how long you have smoked, quitting will benefit your health in both the immediate and long-term future. For support to quit smoking, call Quitline 13 78 48.

2. Eat well

There may be more temptation than ever to turn to unhealthy food, but it’s important to be mindful that what we eat and drink can affect our mental and physical wellbeing.

We saw a surge in supermarket purchasing during the first COVID outbreak in Australia last year. This saw an increase in junk food purchasing with the ABS reporting a 28% increase in treat foods such as chocolate in March 2020 compared to the previous year.

To get your healthy eating habits back on track visit healthymadetasty.com.au

3. Limit drinking

Be mindful of your alcohol consumption.

During the last lockdown, the ABS released data showing that some Australians turned more to alcohol, with more than 1 in 10 (14 per cent) reporting an increase in alcohol consumption.

Alcohol is a risk factor for seven different cancers. Try and limit your alcohol consumption.

The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends men and women consume no more than 10 standard drinks per week.

4. Keep active

We urge people to use every opportunity they can, within current NSW Government social distancing measures to be physically active. Take a walk, play with the kids, stretch, and try out some of the great in-home exercise programs online right now.

5. Get support if you need it

If you or anyone you know has been impacted by cancer, we’re here for you. Our 13 11 20 Information and Support Line provides guidance, advice and support for cancer patients, their friends, families and carers. Give our friendly cancer specialists a call any time.

Now more than ever, it’s important that we do our best to stay mentally and physically healthy and focusing on creating healthy habits is a good place to start.