I wrote a similar article in the spring when life all of a sudden got turned upside down.

Pandemic….. Quarantine…. Physical Distancing…. Remote Learning …. Sports and Travel all cancelled…. Economic Downturn… All at the same time? It sounds like a bad movie, but it’s been our life.

I decided to publish an updated version as these same issues persist. We are still facing a lot of uncertainty. How long will this last? How will things play out? Will my loved ones and I stay healthy? How will my community fare? What will be the economic repercussions of all this? When will a vaccine be available to me and my family? Will it even work? Will we find effective treatments? What will school look like this year? How will we juggle jobs AND childcare? How will we manage financially?

I have a pit in my stomach as I write all these worries out. I know everyone else does too. While none of us have any answers. I do know one thing for sure. HOW we cope with this IS in our control, and the daily choices we make will have a significant impact on how we fare. So I wanted to share some of my best tips for staying well- physically, mentally, and emotionally- as we ride out this unimaginable situation.

1. Get some activity in EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I think getting outside is preferable. The fresh air, the sunshine, the blooming flowers, and the chance to chat with others are all so so good. Inside, there are many options too. If you have exercise equipment, use it! Or there are options for free workouts on line. Beachbody has a free 14 day trial that gives you access to their TOP NOTCH workouts. (You can use this link https://bchbody.life/2UceTmj). If you have not tried video based workouts you may feel unsure about them. I was too at first! But the trainers are just the best, having a calendar to follow is very motivating, and you will always get a great workout. You can also modify every workout to your level of fitness.

2. Keep your focus on following a healthy diet. Drink lots of water, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, minimize your consumption of processed foods, and watch your sugar intake. More than ever, you need your body and your immune system to stay healthy! Also, when you eat poorly, your energy level and mental focus suffer, your mood declines, you become more irritable, and your body can’t function optimally.

3. Try to do something productive every day. Set reasonable goals- especially if you are juggling working from home with watching your kids and keeping your household running. Make a doable list in the morning and check off your accomplishments. Take time to pause at the end of the day and reflect on what you WERE able to accomplish, rather than dwelling on what you WEREN’T able to get to. Be gentle with yourself! These are stressful times and the demands are HIGH. You can only do your best.

4. Identify some helpful mantras (or affirmations) that you can repeat to yourself: “This WILL eventually pass…. life will get back to normal…..we will get through this…. we have been through rough times before….. we are resilient……” It may sound hokey, but you CAN program your mind to believe the words you provide. You have a choice to dwell on whichever thoughts you choose. Dwelling on the positive will improve how you feel and how you get through each day.

5. Limit the amount of social media and news you watch. Decide what your BEST source will be for up to date essential information, make a policy for how often you will check it, and STICK TO THAT! You do not need to check the news all day long. Personally, I recommend once in the morning. Do not check your phone right before you go to bed. You need to be able to sleep well to stay healthy, and reading upsetting news before you try to fall asleep is likely to be disruptive. If there is anything urgent you need to know, you will find out! Also, remove the alerts from your cell phone home page. You don’t need to see them every time you pick up your phone.

6. The emotional part of our brain makes us feel like danger is imminent. Pause throughout the day and activate the rational part of your brain to assess what the real risk is for you and your loved ones. Ask yourself what is the worst possible case scenario, and what are all the WHAT IFs that would have to fall into place to allow for that worse case scenario to happen. And then think about how likely is it that ALL the what ifs will be true. Chances are there is a small chance the absolute worst case scenario will play out, and it’s important to see that perspective. Have you heard about tapping? It can be very beneficial for quieting the anxious part of your brain. Check out this link for more information. https://www.thetappingsolution.com/

7. Finally, It’s OK to spend some time temporarily forgetting all about the stress we are facing right now. Read a book, do your nails, watch a movie, work on a house project, call a friend to catch up (and DON’T talk about the current situation), play games with your family, watch old sports events on TV. It is OK.