I advocate social distancing in order to help prevent catching the disease but also to support our communities as they try to manage the contamination rate of this virus.
If you’re reading this, I suspect that health and wellness is important to you and you are fairly active but doing your best to comply with the CDC’s recommendations.
One of those recommendations is self-quarantine.
As sports seasons are suspended, movie theaters and schools closed, and social events of every kind canceled, you may be wondering,
”Whatever will I do with myself if I can’t go out and enjoy socializing in my community?"
Tah-Daaah!
I’m here to encourage you to keep up your wellness routines in order to stay physically, mentally and emotionally healthy in every respect. With that in mind, I’ve come up with some social distancing/self-quarantine activities that can boost your mood as well as your physical health and mental well-being – all of which support your immune system.
Ready? Here we go.
10. Move your body. Many gyms are taking extra precautions with cleaning. But you might consider wearing disposable gloves if you are at the gym as well as carrying your own wipes to either wipe down a piece of equipment or to be used to cover your own nose and mouth should you need to sneeze (I mean…it IS allergy season).
If you feel uncomfortable going to a gym, try using an exercise DVD or YouTube at home. I know of some VERY GOOD Pilates DVDS. In fact, for the duration of this pandemic, I will send you FREE DVDs, all you have to cover is shipping. (Shipping ranges between $7-10 depending on how many are in a package).
9. Get (clean) fresh air. Most cities have green spaces where people can go to walk, hike or bicycle. Use them. Avoid busy parks. Choose open spaces, walking trails and the great outdoors. Being in nature is good for your soul. Movement is good for your body. Look around and see what your community has to offer.
8. Open your windows (weather and allergens permitting). Our lungs need clean fresh air. During the 1918 flu epidemic, Joseph Pilates famously had his barracks mates out in the fresh air learning his movement method. The legend states no one in his barracks succumbed to the flu. At least once per day, if possible, try to air out your living space, particularly your bedroom.
7. Read a good book. This is a great time to discover a new author, learn a new skill, or rediscover a classic. Reading for leisure has practically become a lost past-time in our electronic society. Put your feet up and enjoy a real book; one whose pages you can actually touch, rabbit-ear, and flip through.
6. Take a Drive. Feeling like the walls are closing in? If you have a car and can do so, consider going for a drive. Go somewhere you can take in the scenery or see what’s new around town. Maybe even roll your windows down or drop the top and let the wind blow through your hair! Just be mindful of having plenty of fuel. Gassing up is another sanitation protocol..
5. TIDY. Speaking of books, take a page from Marie Kondo’s book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”. Tidying is GREAT for your brain. As you clean out those areas that are prone to clutter (my dad used to call his, “Fibber Magee’s Closet”), it’s as though you are cleaning out the cobwebs in your brain. It creates space for your mind to be calm and creative. Plus! In the midst of a pandemic, clean is good.
4. Escape with a movie. Catch up on the movies you may have missed out on in the past. Hopefully, this doesn’t mean “Netflix while you have the chills..”. There are so many streaming options available ranging from Netflix to YouTube TV. Maybe catch one of the Academy Award Winners you may have missed or a thought-provoking documentary. Personally, my husband and I work with an Afghani refugee family and I’m looking forward to seeing “Learning To Skateboard In A Warzone (If You're A Girl)”.
3. Take advantage of electronic communication. Social interaction is critical for emotional health and well-being. Isolation can be very depressing, especially for the elderly. (Apparently, I qualify for that category, according to the CDC!) E-mail and text don’t fit the bill. In research on communication, we’ve learned that we need at minimum, voice to voice communication, e.g., phone. Better yet would be Facetime, video chat, Skype, or ZOOM; electronic communication that allows us to both see and hear the person we’re talking to.
2. Begin or expand a meditation practice. If you are already meditating - GREAT – maybe you can add something new, like journaling or sound healing. If you’ve not meditated in the past, now is an excellent time to begin. Check out any of the meditation apps you can use on your phone. There are tons out there. Some of the more highly rated ones include CALM, Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics, and Buddhify. For beginners, I recommend Headspace, which has a coach walking you through your mediation and providing reassurance that you’re doing fine.
Research on meditation is growing and we’re learning how beneficial it can be for your health, from enhancing mood to boosting the immune system to improving relationships. We could all use a dose of that right now!
..And the number one activity to keep you sane and healthy during self-quarantine is….
(drumroll please)
1. Practice Gratitude. In situations like the one we’re facing, it can be easy to focus on the negative and granted, there is a lot of negative all around us lately. The BEST way to eliminate darkness is to shine a light. Gratitude helps us to be a light. Sometimes it may feel as though it’s hard to find things for which to be grateful. Here are some thoughts to help you get started:
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- It doesn't have to be big. It can be clean drinking water, healthy family, hot water, a good friend or the flower blooming outside your window.
- Let your gratitude permeate your being. It’s not an intellectual exercise. It’s a feeling exercise. Feel it. Let it warm you.
- Try placing your hands on your heart when you’re remembering those things for which you are grateful and remember WHY these things have touched you.
Scientists are telling us that we may be rethinking how we live our lives for quite some time to come. These tips are really just seeds to help you begin thinking about how to be well and remain positive as we deal with COVID-19 globally.
If you have some thoughts you’d like to share, please comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
Until next time my friends,
Be well (stay well)
P.S. Please email me if you’d like a free DVD to add variety to your home exercise routine.
P.P.S. I’ve been considering starting a YouTube Channel. Send me an email and let me know if this would interest you!
P.P.PS. For on-going health & fitness tips, please check out my Facebook page, From Overwhelmed to Inspired!
