Emirates Filipina purser gives tips on staying fit physically, mentally during self-quarantine
As the Philippines and the rest of the world continue the fight against the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), millions of Filipinos, particularly those who live in Luzon, continue to practice social distancing in order to curb the highly contagious and deadly disease.
In these times, being holed up in one’s home can be difficult, especially since studies show that isolation and boredom can negatively impact a person’s physical and mental health, if left unchecked for long periods.
Like most Filipinos right now, Emirates purser Maureen Bateson is currently staying at home to help contain the spread of COVID-19. A native of Quezon City, Bateson dreamed of joining the commercial airline industry when she was young. She then pursued her dream and began her career as cabin crewmember for Philippine Airlines, and then for Saudi Arabian Airlines, before joining Emirates in 2002, where she recently celebrated 18 years of service, and counting.
To help her fellow Filipinos keep their personal well-being in check while they stay at home, Bateson shares a few simple but effective tips for staying fit and healthy physically and mentally during self-quarantine.
Exercise and get adequate sleep
“As my husband is working from home, we start out exercise after 3:30 PM. My husband and I believe that a healthy body equals a healthy mind,” Bateson said.
Once her husband has finished work for the day, the two will bond with each other over some exercise. “We have been enjoying the Les Mills Body Jam classes online. This is not only an opportunity to work out, but also let my hair down and have fun.”
“We have also started a daily yoga practice, something we fell out of a few years ago. We are following an online 30-day course which has been a great reintroduction into the practice. Each day builds the intensity and it means we have been able to stay constant without suffering from the day before.”
In addition, she said they have been doing high-intensity interval training every other day, which really helps in getting their heart rate up.
She then gave a reminder about maintaining a healthy sleep cycle. “One of the best things about this time is having a regular sleeping pattern. I get to bed before 9 PM and read for about an hour before dozing off. Waking up well-rested and without an alarm each day has been wonderful.”
Learn new things
In addition to exercising and getting adequate sleep, Bateson also said self-quarantine is a great time to work on one’s personal development, which includes learning new skills. “For example, I have started with LinkedIn Learning to develop my Excel skill along with refreshing my leadership training.”
Declutter and organize
For Bateson, one way to help keep the mind at ease during home quarantine is by decluttering and organizing. “I have been emptying out my cupboards and drawers and have put aside items for donation to charity and repacked my clothes in a more logical manner.”
Stay connected
“I have been in constant touch with family and friends regularly, letting them know how my husband and I are getting on and making sure they are doing well. I have also been asking my mum for the recipes for my favorite dishes from back home. I have been batch cooking and storing them to save on waste.”
“I have also used this time to reach out to old friends I haven’t heard from in a while. It has been great catching up and finding out what they have been up to.”
Enjoy the simple things
Being an owner of cats, Bateson said even simple things like spending time with pets can make one’s self-isolation more bearable. “Our cats love to sunbathe on the window ledge which is an ideal opportunity to give them a big scratch and hug. They will put up with this for a few minutes then run off and hide. I think they are looking forward to me going back to flying so they can have the house to themselves again.”
“On weekends we do a deep clean of the house before our exercise then watch a movie or some TV shows over dinner.”
Be grateful
Most importantly, Bateson said that self-quarantine has allowed her to see all the things that she should be thankful for, and everyone should do the same. “Every morning I remind myself of all the things I am grateful for, a new day to share with my family, friends, and cats; my health, food on the table, and a roof over my head; a career I love, and the UAE for protecting its citizens and residents in this time,” she said.
