It won’t be surprising to state that you have been through an ocean of “gyaan” by almost everyone near and dear over healthy habits. Most of them fade away and the rest adapt according to our comfort. One thing is for sure, until you have a healthy body and mind by your side, nothing in the world will make you feel content.
As a seafarer, being physically involved in the job is a necessity. A day off can put your fellow crew members do overtime. Let’s look at 5 simple habits which will make you healthier and happier.
Table of Contents
EYE exercise
The most precious of all organs, it has been accustomed to seeing things at the same distance as your screen is right now. This chains the lens muscles and reduced its accommodation power. Doing this simple exercise, every morning or during the break will relieve them.
But before getting to exercise make an assessment of your eyes. Read the steps and take a test.
Step 1: Close stbd eye with your palm.
Step 2: Trace the perimeter with the port eyeball slowly.
Step 3: Observe the stiffness and freeness as it goes around.
Step 4: Do the same for your stbd eye.
Doing an assessment will make you appreciate the exercise as well as this post. Now you know the areas where you feel discomfort and you lose focus of things. Let’s do these simple exercises.
Exercise 1: Roll your eyes clockwise keeping your face straight, as slowly as possible.
5 Reps
Exercise 2: Roll them anti-clockwise.
5 Reps
Exercise 3: Look from one diagonal to another diagonal, but keep in mind you have to push your vision to its extreme. Let’s call it 10 o’clock to 4 o’clock.
5 Reps
Exercise 4: Do the diagonal with the other side. 2 o’clock to 8 o’clock.
5 Reps
Exercise 5: Move your eyes slowly in the vertical direction by reaching the extremes you can see.
5 Reps
Exercise 6: Move your eyes slowly in the horizontal direction reaching the extremes.
5 Reps
Exercise 7: This is a focus exercise. Extend your hand with your thumb out sitting with a wide field of view in front of you. First, focus on the thumb then focus on the farthest thing you can see. This exercise will make your lens more flexible and help reduce the strain of looking things at different distances.
10 Reps
Exercise 8: Rub your palms slowly and place them on the eyes.
Statutory Warning! The reps shown are flexible according to your ease. But following them will definitely make your eyes strain-free and flexible.
DRINK water healthy way
It sounds weird that most of us who are programmed to gulp water involuntarily don’t know how to drink water correctly.
First, let’s know what happens when we drink water while standing. The water passes through the food canal fast and it makes to body activate alert mode. It triggers many anaerobic responses from the body results in following:
- It disrupts the digestive system
- It also accumulates fluids in the joints which triggers arthritis.
- It risks your lungs and heart function because the oxygen level gets disturbed this way.
- It causes the water impurities to settle in the bladder, and damage the functioning of the kidneys
Let’s Learn how to drink water like a pro, and make a habit.
SIT and SIP. It is as simple as to sit on a chair, stay erect, and sip water with the saliva in your mouth. The reason for sipping is the same as why chewing is important for digestion. Yes, the juices are important for the body to quench the thirst.
It is also a fact that the survival guide in the lifeboat also suggests the crew to sip water not to gulp, you won’t feel thirsty for a longer period.
STRETCHES to start your day with
As tea time is incomplete without “skyflakes” your day is incomplete without a proper stretching routine. But due to strenuous coasting or shifting time across the ocean, we miss out on stretching our body before we head back to grind.
What are the benefits of stretching you ask? Here are some:
- it gets the blood flowing throughout the entire body
- it reduces stress and anxiety
- if you are into GYM then it reduces the risk of getting injured
- Energizes your mind
- Helps in getting good posture and better mobility
Here is a simple way to stretch to get that extra edge.
For the PROs out there, “Surya Namaskar” is the perfect stretch to master.
Put the best FOOT forward
Our feet remain one of the least concerned body parts since puberty and the reason is simple face comes first. But my friend your feet are the ones holding your weight remain in the dark, left to stink and taken for granted.
One thing you should definitely consider adding to your routine is giving your feet Hydrotherapy after your regular day is over.
You can soak your feet in water with Epsom salt or use an essential oil. Place your feet in sustainable warm water, which dilates your blood vessels, it helps to release toxins. Rinse them and moisturize them before sleep. Your feet will love it.
Know about how safety shoes are making you sick.
ORAL care
Most of you will think this section will end up saying brush your teeth two times a day but there’s more to it. Almost all of us have gone through a toothache once in life and were resolved to be more careful for the future. Most shipping companies DO NOT add dental cover in the contract
A simple habit that is beneficial, especially for seafarers having sensitive teeth is to chew a couple of cloves after meals. You may ask your chief cook arrange it for you to keep it in your cabin or in your work drawer. The benefits of cloves are just opposite to their size:
- Provides relief from toothache
- Highly efficient in killing bacteria
- Removes tooth stains when used in powder form
- Reduces gum Inflammation
- Removes unpleasant mouth odor
Secondly, we brush our teeth and clean our tongue and inner cheeks but we miss out on an equally important part, the roof of the mouth i.e. “PALATE”. The most easy way to clean it with the thumb, careful not to use the nail and if you have a remarkable gag reflex then you may also use your brush for it.
Always remember that your work is a subset of your life and not the other way around and to enjoy life you must have a healthy body. So, always strive to attain it and maintain it. This concludes yet another “gyaan”.
If you have any other healthy habit to share, our comment section and seafarers would love to know.
Conclusion
Healthy habits are not only essential for prolonging your sailing life but also for making your time at sea a happy and fulfilling experience. By prioritizing your well-being and incorporating healthy habits into your daily routine, you can improve your physical and mental health while enjoying the wonders of maritime life. So, take the first step towards a healthier sailing journey by adopting these habits today. Don’t forget to share this blog post on your social media platforms to spread the word and encourage others to embark on a healthier seafaring lifestyle. Happy sailing!
