Introverts across the world are rejoicing - finally no longer having to explain being alone cause they just dang enjoy it (I'm with you friends!). Parents on the other hand....well let's just say school is not just for the benefit of the child #amIright?

All jokes aside, this whole Corona thing is having real impact on every human in this country and across the world. From the people that contract it and suffer, to those that have lost a loved one; the economic strain on business small and large, through to those living in fear and isolation. There's no doubting that this is, at its very core, a human issue that will be overcome by the collective will and kindness of humans. To all of our family and readers out there, if there is anything we can do for you, please reach out and we will do our very best. We Are Humans Before We Are Numbers is the number 1 value at Nourish'd, and now more than ever we stand by that. Now more than ever it's super important that we keep ourselves as healthy as possible - including those of us in isolation! Your mental and physical health remain as important as ever, despite the temptation to curl up in our PJ's with hours of Netflix for two weeks straight! Here's a quick guide we put together on how to keep yourself healthy (and sane!) in isolation (hot tip: they're not that different from how you should keep yourself healthy every day).

1. Water, Water, Water

Yeah, it's that simple. But also that easy to forget. If you're in a really great routine of drinking 2+ litres of water a day, that's awesome. But here's the thing about isolation - it's not routine. All those drink queues your body has become used to throughout the day are no longer there, so we need to be more conscious.

Our Tip: Set an alarm on your phone to go off every 60 minutes, to get up and have a drink. Rather than fill up a water bottle and keep it with you, use this time to get up and walk to the kitchen to poor yourself a glass. Double whammy - water AND movement!

2. Ya Gotta Eat

Can't go to the supermarket....can't go to the markets....can't even order online from Woolies anymore....ah well, better head to Uber Eats! Yeah ok, maybe once or twice that can be a thing (or three or four times - we need to support small business guys!), but we're not going to stay healthy smashing the takeout guys. Now more than ever we need to support our immune systems with good food. And there are a few options available to you:

• Meal Delivery: Obviously we're going to be big fans of this one, cause we are a meal delivery company #nothidinganything. Self serving aside, this can be a really great option to ensure you're getting a decent, fresh meal into you at least once a day, and lucky for you there are a million options out there. We wrote a whole article HERE on what you should look for in a healthy meal delivery provider.
• Non-Supermarket Fruit & Veg Delivery: Much like pre-made meals, there are loads of options for fresh food delivery that aren't Hello Fresh or Woolies (let's support small and local guys!). Going beyond the first page of Google will show you loads of options, many of which may be local to you.
• Community Co-Ops: Have a search around on Facebook for community groups in or near your suburb - people are getting super creative on how they can come together to support each other and local farmers.

Our Tip: Avoid the same stuff you would normally avoid. Even if the apocalypse happens and we have to survive on non-perishables, that doesn't mean rice and pasta have to become our two main food groups. Fruit and veg do come in cans! And now is the time to stock up, while the masses are busy raiding all the pasta!

3. Keep Moving 

Not being able to get to the gym is no excuse for not getting movement in - in the words of the great Randy Cotoure 'You Got A Door, You Got A Gym'. Here are our fave ways to get that heart rate going:

• Go for a walk: Isolation doesn't actually mean you can't leave your house, it just means you need to stay away from other humans. You could drive to your local national park or state forest and take a beautiful hike, or if you live in a less densely populated area head out for a stroll - just make sure if someone is coming the other way you do them a solid and give them a wide berth.
• Be Influenced: Whether it be for kindness or to gain followers, who cares! There is a veritable dearth of Insta Influencers pumping out free at-home workouts at the moment, so now's the time to make the most of it. One of our fave accounts, Kahn Porter, just released an article with 50 at home workouts for FREE! For something a little less intense, check out Kayla Itsines and her Sweat App
• Crack out the Jane Fonda tapes....we know you have them stored back there ;)

Our Tip: Exercise at the same time you normally would. If you're an early gym goer, get up at the same time, get that activewear on, and do what you can at home. It's as important for your mental health as it is your physical.

4. Stay Connected

We're not talking about scrolling the gram - we're talking about connecting with actual human beings. Schedule phone calls with friends, text people you haven't spoken to in a long time, join any one of the thousands of online groups that have popped up in the last week. We live in a time where, if we choose, we can connect with other human beings without having to even be in the same country let alone the same house. Isolation may just be the opportunity you've been looking for to make new friends, or rekindle old relationships - let's make the most of it. Above all - stay kind, be safe, and take care of each other.