Experience Downtown Blog

Health & Wellness from Your Milwaukee Home

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Feeling antsy and fatigued from being stuck at home? A routine refresh might be just the thing for your body and mind right now. Take time to treat every aspect of your well-being—your physical health and your mental health—with the care it deserves. 

Physical Health

First and foremost, following CDC guidelines is the best ways to remain healthy. By taking social distancing and safer-at-home orders seriously, we can combat this pandemic together. 

Staying active is another great way to maintain physical health. It may be difficult to get all your steps in without venturing outdoors, but online classes offer an exciting solution. Try out a new workout or ask family members to join in the fun. 

Many Milwaukee fitness studios are now offering online classes. Check your favorite gym’s website to see what unique experiences are available. Local studios like Empower Yoga and Urban Om offer free yoga classes. Daily workouts are also posted by SPIRE Fitness on their Instagram page here. You don’t have to be an expert to get started. All you need is an internet connection!

If workouts aren’t your thing, dance could be a great way to keep your body active. Danceworks, Inc. in Milwaukee is offering free lessons on their Facebook page. If you’re looking for something less structured, then a virtual dance party might be the answer. DJ Shawna’s dance parties are a great way to express yourself and have fun no matter where you are! Click here for some dance party excitement. 

Eating healthy is also important for physical health. Enjoying mealtimes will give you the energy you need to feel great and stay motivated while at home. It might also help you build a productive daily routine. You can make healthy eating exciting by trying a new recipe or taking pointers from a Milwaukee food blogger like Sweet Phi. Milwaukee Recreation also has classes about cooking and food storage in addition to regular fitness programs. Check out Milwaukee Rec’s program schedule here. 

Mental Health

Mental health and physical health go hand in hand. Significant change can cause unnecessary mental clutter, but exercise is known to help the mind find focus. Beyond being physically active, there are many ways to boost mental wellbeing while at home. 

Practicing mindfulness and meditation can help ground you in these uncertain times. Trying out breathing exercises, apps or guided meditation videos are simple steps that can have a big impact on your life. Apps like Headspace and Oak offer many helpful and free tools for people beginning their mindfulness journey. The best part is that you can easily adopt these practices into your daily routine without sacrificing too much time.   

Reflection can offer many beneficial insights during this time as well, and journaling is a great way to reflect. Gratitude journaling is a method established to increase happiness, and you can learn how to get started here. Reflection doesn’t have to be written, either. You can reflect by looking through old pictures or even having conversations with friends. It is up to you to decide when and how you’ll reflect. 

Incorporating fun activities at home is another way to lift your spirits. Ask yourself, what makes me happy?  It could be painting, doing crafts or puzzles, knitting, reading, dancing and so much more. The biggest thing is ensuring you set aside time to experience what you love every day. This is also a chance to pick up a hobby you’ve always been curious about. No matter what, you get to choose your own at-home adventure. 

About the author: Claire Barten is Milwaukee Downtown's Special Events & Marketing Intern, spreading Milwaukee Downtown's community ideals through social media and other engaging platforms.