Coronavirus has taught me to appreciate the little things in life
Nerina Ramlakhan tells Anna Magee how she has made small changes to feel more in control of her life
As a physiologist, I can see that fear and anxiety over coronavirus has pushed us as a society into survival mode. That leads to getting angry with others. I have chosen not to watch the news as I am trying to stay in control of the effects of fear and stress on my body and also making choices each day to help me process what’s going on – taking regular breaks, getting out into nature and meditating.
My fitness week – breathing for health, dancing and mindful runs
In the past, I ran marathons but now at 56, I’m fitter in a more holistic way. Before I would cycle 30 or 40 miles at once, but now I run outside, typically for 45 minutes. This involves stopping where I can to look at the river, the herons and cormorants and lean against a tree. The whole virus thing taught me to be more grateful for the tiny things. During lockdown, just going to my local park felt like a holiday – I appreciated it so much, knowing it could be taken away. I also do 15 minutes stretching in the mornings – when I am working on a book, I have to be what I call “fit to sit”, so that means doing lots of stomach crunches and back extensions in the morning. I also do 25 minutes of meditation every day and 15 minutes of breathing exercises. The latter is based on the Wim Hof Method, created by an extreme athlete who believed breathing could help regulate the immune response. Oh, and I try to dance whenever I feel like it, while cooking mostly.
My diet principles
I eat according to how I feel. Every day I ask myself, “What demands am I facing?” and then choose healthy foods to help me through that. For example, if I wake up feeling anxious or worried I have something small such as eight almonds or two dates, to stabilise my blood sugar before I start any exercise.
Then if I am under pressure and taking a webinar, I will eat something substantial such as two eggs, half an avocado, four rashers of bacon and a piece of toast, prioritising protein and healthy fats. Running a webinar takes so much mental energy and these help with that. Otherwise, I run on adrenalin, deplete my resources and can’t sleep at night.
Nerina Ramlakhan, 56, is a physiologist, sleep and stress expert who lives in Kingston, Surrey, with her daughter Maya, 16. She is the author of four books including “Tired But Wired”