The past several months have caused a great deal of uncertainty and stress in our lives. And fortunately, there are many healthy ways to manage ongoing stress. Habits such as regular physical activity, nutritious food choices, and staying connected with others can help alleviate some of the stress you might be experiencing.
While the pandemic has made it challenging to spend time with others, it’s still possible to stay connected in a COVID world. And making an effort to avoid social isolation will help you manage your stress and even improve your health.
Here are just a few ways that you can stay connected in a COVID world:
1. Keep doing activities that you enjoy or learn something new.
Take advantage of technology and find ways to keep doing the activities that you enjoy. People just like you will be doing the same thing, and you’ll be able to stay connected (virtually) through a shared interest. Now is also a great time to try learning something new. Leverage the technology you have available and connect with others over an interest you share or a skill you want to learn.
2. Stay in touch with your family and friends.
Keep calling, texting, or better yet, video chatting. While it’s great to keep picking up the phone and checking in with the people you’re used to seeing regularly, video can help you feel more connected. Actually seeing the faces of the people you love over video can go a long way in making you feel less isolated from others.
3. Take a break from the news.
Spending all of your time glued to the news can start to have a negative effect on your mental state. A neverending feed of bad news can consume your thoughts and make you feel hopeless, alone, and disconnected. Consider taking a break from the news. Check-in on the highlights at the beginning and end of your day, but then spend the rest of your day doing other, more positive things.
4. Get some time outside.
Even if you’re being cautious and avoiding as much contact with others as you can, you can still spend some time outside. Take a walk around your block or spend a few minutes of each day in your own yard. You might see your neighbors doing the same and share a quick hello and a wave from a safe distance. Even these brief interactions can be a reminder that you’re not alone.
Remember that we’re all in this together! At the YMCA of Greater Whittier, we are taking the necessary steps to keep you and our staff members safe. We might be socially distancing ourselves, but we’re not alone. For any questions on our current program offerings, contact us today.
