World Wellbeing Week. How to boost your wellbeing in the city of London
Overcrowding, noise, pollution. Urban living in places such as London, while vibrant, can have downsides which over time place a negative impact on your health.
So, how can we balance this out to make sure we’re looking after our health without compromising city living? For Wellbeing Week, we’re looking at the simple lifestyle choices and changes you can make to help keep you feeling good, all year round, while living in London.
Checking in on our health is so important. Many conditions which go on to be serious and debilitating, if caught early, are easily managed through diet or lifestyle changes, supplements, or a temporary course of treatment.
Be handy with your hygiene
As we know from the Covid-19 pandemic, germs spread easily in busy, built-up areas where high volumes of people touch door handles and railings. Do your best to avoid direct contact with these surfaces, using a tissue instead. The pandemic may be easing but it’s no time to loosen up on those healthy habits. Remember to use sanitiser and to wash your hands before eating or touching your face.
Act natural
In the hustle and bustle of built-up areas, we can forget to take the time to appreciate nature. While London might not have the trappings of the countryside, there are still plenty of parks and green spaces to enjoy. Try to make time to explore these and reap the restorative benefits of getting a little closer to nature.
Grow for it
Keen to bring those green spaces a little closer to home? Ask your landlord or neighbours whether they know of a community garden in your local area.
If there is a plot near you, consider using a section of it to grow your own produce. You may be able to trade your produce with others for even more variety. Growing your own fruit and veg has plenty of health benefits, as well as the wellbeing and satisfaction that comes with the activity.
Improve your air
High-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) air purifiers have special filters that can remove small particles, such as dust, dirt, and smog – especially handy in a city. Keep an air purifier in your bedroom and run it while you sleep so you can breathe clean air.
Meditate more
Practicing meditation every day is a powerful route to better wellbeing, as it gives your body time to rest and focus on breathing, reducing stress and anxiety levels, lowering heart rate and blood pressure, and helping shake of tensions which can build up throughout the day.
GP waiting times for blood tests in London are increasing in many practices, and appointments for non-urgent care more difficult to access, private blood testing is becoming a common alternative for many people looking to take control of their health.
Miss the bus
While cities tend to have excellent transport links, it can mean that you miss out on the opportunity to get your steps in. If you can, try getting off a few stops earlier or bicycling to work instead. If you’re working from home more often, try to make sure you build in a lunchtime walk to give you a healthy break in the day.
Sleep yourself well
Cities like London which never sleep can be disturbing when you need yours. Getting good quality sleep, with a regular and consistent routine is one of the best things you can do for your health but that can be tricky with noise and light pollution.
Close your windows if you’re able to and use blinds that block out light, so your room is completely dark while you’re sleeping. If you can’t fall asleep due to the noise, wear ear plugs while you sleep to block out the sounds of the city.
White noise generators or sleep apps can also help you block out ambient city sounds if you aren’t able to use ear plugs. Wearing a sleep mask to cover your eyes can also be very effective if your blinds or curtains don’t entirely block out light.
And finally, try to avoid using your phone or other devices right before bed so the blue light doesn’t keep you awake.
Get a health MOT
Checking in on our health is so important. Many conditions which go on to be serious and debilitating, if caught early, are easily managed through diet or lifestyle changes, supplements, or a temporary course of treatment.
With GP waiting times increasing in many practices, and appointments for non-urgent care more difficult to access, private blood testing is becoming a common alternative for many people looking to take control of their health.
Our Full London test is a great option for those looking for a broad snapshot of their overall health, as it tests the blood for a number of key health indicators, deficiencies, and disease markers, removing a lot of guess work and flagging any potential problems.
Our central London walk in clinic makes getting your private blood test quick and convenient. Simply purchase your test online and attend the clinic on the same day.
At your appointment, the friendly team will talk to you about your test, collect your blood sample and send it off for testing at an accredited partner laboratory. All you need to do is arrive for your appointment. We’ll take care of the test, and the rest.
Our FULL LONDON Health Screen (Plus V) includes tests for thyroid function, liver function as well as vitamins for your current nutritional status and long term health.
