5 Must Have Household Items In 2020

Let's be honest, we were not designed to sit at home on a sofa or at a desk for hours on end, but in recent times it has been unavoidable!

Sitting for such long periods of time (and most likely in far from ideal conditions) can start to have a negative impact on your health and wellbeing unless you take the time to look after your body. In this blog post, I share some brilliant recommendations for a few simple items that can fit snug into the corner of a room and will transform your lock down experience.

I own all 5 items and don't quite know what I'd do without them at the moment so without further ado, let's dig in.

1. Grid Roller

For this specific product, I would recommend the brand 'Trigger Point'. I have this exact grid roller at home and have found it hugely beneficial. The idea behind a grid roller is to use it to roll out and massage different parts of your body to relieve any pain from aches and niggles.

You can use it anytime, but before and after any form of exercise is when its most commonly used.

There is so much you can do with a grid roller and you'll be able to find countless Youtube videos showing you different techniques based on your needs.

If you find that you are a little sensitive to touch or you're the kind of person that avoid sports massages because they are painful, then you might want to go for a foam roller as opposed to a grid roller. These are generally slightly longer and have a smoother surface. Foam rollers are often used in Pilates.

You can purchase this grid roller here: https://amzn.to/3dsO0BL

2. Posture Medic

What a genius piece of kit this is! A posture medic comes in various different sizes and colours and is designed to assist your posture. You pop it on like a back pack and each time you go to slouch, whether that be whilst sitting at your desk or driving, it gently pulls and creates resistance which reminds you that you are starting to slouch.

They can be worn underneath your clothes so it doesn't have to be visible to those around you.

I've found this posture medic to be so useful as I constantly forget to check my posture throughout the day as I'm so focused on other things. That continuous light pull from the posture medic throughout is a great way to get you used to correcting your posture on a regular basis.

I wouldn't recommend that you wear it for too long in one go as it can start to ache, especially if you're posture is quite poor at the moment (which mine has been recently). I'd suggest popping it on for 20 minutes or so and then resting before putting it on later for another stint - this seems to work a treat.

Another great way to improve your posture at home would be to sit on a stool instead of a chair. This forces you to sit forward in your seat and keep an upright posture. I got rid of my dining room chair and replaced it for a stool just over a week ago and I'm noticing a huge difference already.

You can purchase a posture medic here: https://amzn.to/3gLtluE

3. Warrior Mat

This is without a doubt, one of the best purchases I've made. A few years ago I decided to get into Yoga and ordered this cheap mat from amazon. It was so bulky and an absolute pain to carry around with me. Quite quickly I got rid of that mat and replaced it with a warrior mat.

I've got the green one (as pictured above). It sits comfortably in the corner of my living room and I'd be surprised if I didn't get it out at least twice a day. It's so lightweight, very durable, easy to roll up and I clean it by washing it in the bath or popping it in the washing machine (it dries really quick too!) Plus they've got a great variety of colours to choose from.

I find it particularly useful at the moment because trying to do Pilates or Yoga on my carpet or wooden floors does not seem appealing!

You can purchase a warrior mat here: https://amzn.to/3eKdavY

4. Spiky Massage Ball

What on earth is this right?! Hmm, spiky balls are not the most attractive looking products but remember, don't judge a book by its cover. The self massaging spiky balls can be a life saver.

There are so many uses for this product but essentially it is used to get deep into specific muscles to massage and loosen them. Again, there are lots of Youtube videos that demonstrate different techniques based on your needs.

As an example, my boyfriend uses it a lot to loosen out the back of his thighs. Whilst sitting, he pops the spiky ball in the centre of the back of his thigh, presses down and raises that leg to press the spiky ball deep into his thigh. This is just one of many exercises.

Again, this product can be quite tough if you've got sensitive skin so be sure to choose some lighter exercises that work for you.

You can purchase this here: https://amzn.to/2Bjk8td

5. Massage Stick

Are you tired of asking your partner for a massage and always getting the same answer...'not tonight, maybe another time'. Well no need! The massage stick is here.

This piece of equipment is so easy to use. You simply hold the handles on each end and apply the rolling mid section to the area of your body you'd like to massage whilst controlling the amount of pressure you apply.

Have noticed that massage is a trend in the blog post? This is mainly down to the fact that it's a great way to loosen your muscles.

and not only does this have positive physical effects, it can also reduce tension and therefore stress.

With the stresses of daily life these days, our bodies have a tenancy to tense up, which can not only contributes to you feeling stiff and sore but can also make you more prone to injury. Taking the time to loosen your muscles and relax them will make you feel both physically better, and mentally better.

You can purchase this massage stick here: https://amzn.to/2XpjHGv

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If you use anything that you think should be added to this must-have list then please feel free to comment below. I'm always looking for more ways to improve physical and mental well-being.

(By the way, this post contains a few affiliate links which means that I can earn a commission if you purchase one of these kit items using the links above. This of course comes at no extra cost to you but these products are just too good not to share)