Survey reveals that women in the UK want to get healthier this spring
Updated: Aug 5, 2021
A survey carried out by the health check service, Medichecks has found that British women want to get healthier this spring.
The research found that 72% of women want to dedicate more time to fitness, 53% want to focus on self-improvement and 46% want to spend less time on social media.
While preparing for summer getaways is often a driving force behind starting a new health regime, the last 12 months has given us a different kind of motivation. Three lockdowns have had a big impact on our physical and mental wellbeing and this is factoring into our desire to get healthier.
Throughout the pandemic, 40% of UK women say they’ve put on weight, 42% have less motivation to exercise and 32% have been eating more convenience foods. Worryingly, the survey also found that fewer than 1% feel healthy in both their body and mind at the moment.
Improving your health this spring
If you’re one of the many who are keen to adopt a healthier lifestyle this spring, below are some great ways to do exactly this.
Make healthier food choices
When it’s miserable and freezing cold outside, nobody can be blamed for wanting to tuck into piping hot comfort foods. Now it’s getting warmer however, it’s much easier to stick to lighter dishes.
Salads are a great way to get plenty of veg into your diet and they don’t have to be boring. You can bulk them up with beans, cous cous, halloumi, grilled vegetables, sweet potato, avocado, eggs or lentils. There are lots of vegetarian alternatives to chicken which are perfect in salads. I love Squeaky Bean’s tikka pieces. They taste really good and offer a great source of protein.
If you’re looking for some recipe inspiration, there are lots of nutritious ideas on the BBC Good Food website.
Get moving
The days are finally brighter, longer and warmer which makes spring the perfect time to get out and exercise.
Even if you commit to just 10 minutes a day, once this becomes a habit, you can start increasing the time and frequency you exercise. It doesn’t matter if it’s a walk, run, swim or cycle or if you’re planning to hit the weights section in the gym, all movement is great for your mental and physical health.
Once those endorphins kick in, you’ll start to feel really great and this will naturally inspire you to want to exercise more.
Work on your mental health
Coronavirus has taken its toll on everyone’s mental health so you’re not alone if you don’t feel great at the moment. While lockdown has been far from enjoyable, many people are also feeling anxious about getting out and about again so looking after your mental health is really important.
Some great tips for improving mental health:
Talk to someone. Confiding in someone you trust can really help to feel better. As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved!
Keep active
Eat healthy foods
Whether it’s reading a book, baking, going for a walk, relaxing in the bath or catching up on your favourite TV show, schedule in some time for yourself so you can switch off and unwind
Ensure you get a good night’s sleep
Learn a new skill – this will also help boost your confidence
Read self-help books or listen to podcasts
You can find some more great tips for improving your mental wellbeing on the Mind website.
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