How to take care of yourself in the time of COVID-19
I admit it; I’m experiencing anxiety unlike I’ve ever felt before, and I know I’m not alone. The world turned upside-down in a matter of days, altering the way we live, work and play.
Hundreds of millions of us have been told to go home and stay there. Work if you can. Be there for your kids if you have them. Oh, and remember to take care of yourself.
Much easier said than done.
In the last couple of days, my family has been adapting to a new schedule with all of us practicing social distancing and some of us working from home. Same for many of you, I’m sure.
The only one who’s not affected — but perhaps just a bit confused as to why none of us are leaving the house — is Astro the dog.
It’s trying, to say the least. But we all owe it to ourselves to take care of ourselves because if we don’t, it’s going to be hard to do anything else.
But before we do that, let’s give ourselves permission to recognize that this is really, really difficult.
Despite all of the rosy posts on LinkedIn from people who are suddenly finding themselves making do with what they have (which is great), it’s also OK to recognize that this is incredibly hard.
It’s OK to be scared about the uncertainty of these times. It’s OK to be worried about the health of loved-ones. It’s OK to be angry about the effects — short-term and long-term — all of this is having.
Wallow, but don’t stay there (again, easier said than done).
Do the things you need to do to make you feel better physically and emotionally.
Some examples might include:
Exercise. I know gyms are closed which is a good thing for everyone’s safety and health. Still, you need to exercise.
I jump rope in our basement 4–5 times a week using Crossrope and their app. Check them out; I am not an affiliate but an avid fan. You don’t need to use their ropes and the workouts on their app are awesome.
Also, Jump Rope Dudes (again, no affiliation) has a bunch of great free workouts that include jumping rope and bodyweight exercises.
If jumping rope isn’t your thing, that’s fine. But find another way to get the blood moving.
Sleep. Although I love to sleep, I rarely get enough at night. So, I’m giving myself permission to take an afternoon nap if need be. Ample sleep is always important but even more so in these times.
Drink water and stay hydrated.
Go for a walk — as often as needed — with your dog, your family or by yourself. Breathe in the air while getting in some steps.
Make a to-do list of things you must accomplish today. It can be tough to stay focused during this time but having a list of must-dos is a great guide to help bring back some focus. Also, checking items off a to-do list is very empowering.
Reach out to a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Let them know you are thinking of them and wondering how they are doing.
Limit your social media. I know social media is a vehicle that brings people together in times like these. But, it’s also can be incredibly toxic. Pick and choose the platforms where you want to spend your time, but don’t spend too much time there.
Limit the news you take in. Stay informed but only to the point that you need to.
Meditate. I don’t do this but I may try.
Keep a journal. Jot down your thoughts, the challenges and the joys you’re experiencing. Start a short story or that Great American Novel you’ve been wanting to pen. Write some poems. Get creative.
Unplug and take a deep breath as often as you need to.
No one knows what tomorrow, next week or even next month will bring, so it’s important to do what you need to do to get through today. Give yourself permission to do so.
