The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the way people live their day-to-day lives. Whether they are working from home, juggling jobs and homeschool, unable to pursue their usual activities or in self-isolation, most people are spending more time at home than ever before. For many, this new way of being has disrupted the routines and habits that keep people healthy.
On January 20th from 6:30 to 7:30 AST, Dalhousieās Faculty of Health is hosting , an panel discussion that will address pandemic-related wellness issues. The panel will also explore ways for attendees to eat healthier, stay physically active and improve their mental health, despite the limitations of this new environment.
The discussion will be led by Sara Kirk (above left), a professor in Dalhousieās School of Health and Human Performance, who will be joined by:
ā¢ĢżĢż ĢżDr. Catherine Mah, associate professor, School of Health Administration, pilipiliĀž»
ā¢ĢżĢżĢż Sarah Moore, assistant professor, School of Health and Human Performance, pilipiliĀž»
ā¢ĢżĢż Ģż (BRecā00, MAā10), PhD candidate, Faculty of Health, pilipiliĀž»
A whole new world
When Dr. Kirk speaks about her own at-home experience, itās the lack of social interaction and physical activity that stands out most. āI miss my bike commute to and from work, personal contact with people and the incidental activity of moving around campus,ā she says. āI have to work really hard to interrupt my sedentary time.ā
In a recent Dal News article, Dr. Mah explains the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating existing food security challenges. āPast public health monitoring in Nova Scotia tells us that one in five households with children are food insecure. They donāt have adequate economic access to food. We expect that proportion will be even higher now because of COVID-19.ā
As Dr. Kirk mentioned, itās also become more difficult to maintain healthy physical activity levels. Recently, however, Dr. Moore led an important national survey titled As a result, sheāll be well-equipped to bring a fresh and informed perspective to issues of family activity levels and the importance of outdoor play to the panel.
Of course, even the toughest situations have a silver lining. āWhile it may have been chaotic for a time, the upside has been the opportunity to realign and clearly identify our priorities,ā says Watson. āFully enjoying that perk means that we are rethinking the pace at which we worked prior to the pandemic. Weāre taking the time to really slow down and appreciate our lives a little more.ā
Donāt miss the opportunity to improve your own health at home. .
Ģż