Maintaining Wellness Amidst COVID-19

I’d be lying if I said that I’ve been particularly peaceful during this time of C-19. I’m currently halfway through my second pregnancy, navigating working from home, conducting virtual meetings with my clients for the first time, and entertaining a 2 year-old. All the while, I’m trying to process what is going on in the world.

We are living through a time that will be written about in the history books. It a collective experience that is equally as isolating.

If you’re like me, you are experiencing information overload. My social media accounts are flooded with articles, numbers, and graphs that attempt to explain how imperative it is that we participate in social distancing. The news is depressing. I miss my friends, going to church, going out to dinner…

But despite the negativity and weight of the situation, I believe we have a unique opportunity to establish some routines and habits during this time, unlike any other. Many of us are off work or working from home. And for those of us still going to work, our after-work hours likely look very different than they used to.

I wanted to share a few habits that I am working on during this time. These activities have given me purpose, have challenged me, and are keeping my mind focused on things that will benefit me and my family.

Preparation & Understanding

There is a lot of useful information out there. If you feel like you’re a little unclear on why social distancing is important, I’d encourage you to seek out some information. Understanding why we need to do something helps us find the motivation to keep going. Check out the following article from the Washington Post for a concise and informative explanation of flattening the curve.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

Exercise

Most of us know that exercise is important for our mental health. However with gyms being closed and children being home, it can be difficult to find the time and place. Many apps are doing free month-long trials. There is also a wealth of free workout videos on youtube (Yoga with Adrienne is a favorite of mine!). One of my personal favorite websites is called FitnessBlender. This couple has hundreds of free workouts available and you can filter them by what you’d like to do, how long you want to exercise, etc.

https://www.fitnessblender.com

Creativity

Find a way to create! Over the past week my husband and I have been cooking. A lot. Of course this leads to a lot of eating so be sure to see my exercise suggestion above :). Create food, create art, create activities! Today I built an obstacle course for my 2-year-old son and I think I might have had even more fun than he did. Creativity is a great way to combat the boredom many of us are experiencing.

A good friend of mine sent me the website linked below. They are offering free courses to people this month and there’s a range of topics to choose from. I’m excited to learn more about utilizing social media for my business and plan to take that course as another way to be creative with my time. Use the code SELFCARE.

https://www.brit.co

Connection with friends and family

Again, we are living through a time that is likely the most universal experience we will share with our friends, family, and those around the globe. Facetime your friends, catch up with your old college roommates, try out a group video call with your extended relatives! We can look back on this time and see how connected we actually were through the resources at our fingertips.

Spiritual connection

Many churches are offering livestreams or videos of their services along with other ways to connect with them via social media. We enjoyed church from home this Sunday and it was a pleasure to say “hi” to others through the Facebook Livestream.

Establish a spiritual routine. I look forward to utilizing some of the extra time on my hands to carve out a consistent time to read my bible, jot down some thoughts, and drink a cup of coffee.

If meditation is of interest to you, check out the app called Headspace. Meditation can help combat hyperarousal (feeling anxious and on-edge) which can provide relief during this time.

“Social Media Distancing”

There were several days last week in the height of the newness of COVID-19 where I had to put my phone in a different room. I left my phone charging on the kitchen counter when I went to bed and I slept better than I had in many nights. Social media will connect us, but our boundaries will protect us from some of the more negative effects. Utilize your phone’s screen time limitations if that feels helpful. You can set this up on your iPhone by going to Settings > Screen Time.

These are a few of my thoughts and ambitions for the foreseeable future. I hope this offers some encouragement as you navigate what your new “normal” will be during this time. May you find peace today!