Taking Care of Yourself Amidst a Health Crisis

​Social distancing can look and feel a lot like isolation, but let us not forget about our loved ones, communities and our own self-care. With so much fear, stress and anxiety being felt during the impact of these uncertain times, I want to take a few minutes to review what could be helpful for us all right now:

• Take breaks from news and social media - We all want to stay as up to date as possible, I get it – and this is important to do as new information is being released rapidly. Your stress levels and general well-being are important too though. I promise, whatever news stories you are planning to look at will be there after you take a break from them. 

 

• Do something fun! Yes, these are worrisome times. Yes, there is a lot that we don’t know. Yes, there are changes in our world right now that are outside of our control. All the more reason to get outside of our worried minds and engaged in an activity that actually brings us joy! Whatever this means for you – watching movies, self-care, yoga, card games, video chatting with friends or family, puzzles (my personal favorite), organizing or cleaning your room/apartment/home, reading, crafting, painting, drawing, coloring, etc. 

 

• Stay active -  Even though going to the gym may not be an option right now, there are so many ways to stay active at home. Check out YouTube for free workout videos or create your own! Staying active will keep your body and mind healthy, along with added stress reducing benefits! Really, it’s a win-win when you get moving.

 

• Eat well – Do what you can to feed your body nutritious food. Make sure you are getting enough calories and have healthy options on hand, if possible. Here is just one quick blog post about eating healthy during this health crisis.  If this one doesn't suit your needs, there are many more where it came from. Do some research to find what may work for you and your family. 

 

• Look outside – This can be both literal and metaphorical. Look outside, open the windows, take a walk if you feel comfortable doing so. The non-literal side to this is to look outside of yourself. It is easy to get lost in our worries and thoughts. Take some time to slow down and look to something bigger than yourself. Perhaps this is a higher power, your religion, or spirituality in general. Check in with this part of yourself and be curious about what you find. 

 
I hope these tips will provide a good start to re-connecting with yourself and your world. You can also check out a previous post of mine for additional info. I would love to hear your thoughts and what has been beneficial for you in these times. 

 
Be well and take care.