Ways to De-Stress and Recharge in the Midst of COVID-19

Every one of us has felt the impact of COVID-19 in our own way. As we try to create a new normal for ourselves and our families, it’s important to be mindful of the new habits we are establishing. Try to put practices into place that help you to:

Take care of yourself physically.

Take care of yourself mentally.

Take care of yourself emotionally.

Here are some ways to do all three:

• Stay hydrated, eat nutritious foods, and get some sleep.

We know even those three things can sound like a lot right now – especially if you’re home with kids. So give yourself credit when and where you’re able to get these in. Keep in mind that taking care of yourself physically benefits you mentally and emotionally too. Like always, aim for 7-8 hours of sleep, 60+ ounces of water a day (eight 8-ounce glasses), and be mindful of snacking vs. actually stopping to sit down and have a meal.

• Move.

It’s less important how you choose to stay active and more important that you do. Walk, run, shoot hoops in your driveway, jump on the trampoline with your kids, do jumping jacks in your living room, join a Facebook or Instagram Live workout, look up a yoga flow on YouTube, or any other social distancing approved activities you might enjoy. Check out your local gyms or popular fitness trainers to see what resources they’ve put online.

• Stay hydrated, eat nutritious foods, and get some sleep.

While staying up-to-date with the news is important, being overwhelmed by it isn’t good for anyone. A quick check-in with the news each day is enough to keep most of us informed. It’s easy to justify giving ourselves a break and grabbing our phones, but try to find other ways to disconnect and recharge. Consider limiting your time on social media or news apps to certain times of the day or use time tracking devices on your phone (most phones have these built in) to get an idea of where your time is going.

• Make space for what makes you happy.

Do you love learning, picking up new hobbies, reading, planning for the future, and/or being creative? Make time for it! Whether that means getting up before your kids or blocking off the same time every day, start with small amounts of time and keep building it into your schedule. You can even add the same time to your kids’ schedules so that you’re all busy with your own hobbies (and more likely to leave each other alone) at the same time.

• Connect.

Connect with family and friends over video chat or phone calls. Get creative! If simply talking on the phone isn’t your favorite, try cooking together, having a virtual happy hour or friends night in, playing games (looking at you, UNO and charades), learning a new dance together, or starting a good old-fashioned book club. Pick things that excite you, not ones that feel like another addition to your to-do list. Connecting with nature also helps relieve stress, so get outside if it’s possible and safe, and explore your neighborhood.
Whatever it is that helps you relieve stress, bring structure into your days, and recharge – do it. We encourage you to make time for it, no matter how daunting that may feel at first. Ask the people around you to help you and do the same for them. Make it fun and make it attainable. Don’t forget to give yourself credit for all the great things you’re already doing! We’re in this together.