Dear Friends,
I hope you are doing ok. I hope you are well and free from coronavirus. If you are safe at home, working at home, or sharing space at home with others, read on for some useful tips.
Remember, this is social distancing, not social disengagement. It is important to stay connected. .
As a matter of fact, engagement is more important now than ever as many of us are confined to our homes either by choice or by order. Humans are social animals with an innate need to connect; so, staying connected is going to be fundamental to wellbeing while we survive these times. We need to be creative on how to achieve it. Here are some ideas:
Give blood: The American Red Cross has reported a critical blood shortage. If you are healthy and able, donating blood goes a long way in helping and building a sense of connection with other humans.
Get Dressed and Make your Bed First Thing in the Morning: Behaving like you have purpose will create a sense of purpose.
Structure and Routine: Wake up at predictable and reasonable times. Create a schedule.
Shop for the elderly or vulnerable: if you have a neighbor, friend, or relative who is having a difficult time getting out, add their needs to your list the next time you go out. Many stores have shortages which are replenished the next day and it is difficult for the vulnerable to go out several times a week. Not only is this a good deed, doing things for others instills a sense of control and empowerment.
Call your friends/family: Have conversations. Many of them. Texting is great, but the flow of conversation which happens from a phone call or facetime is irreplaceable. Family zoom or facetime calls are fun (provided you enjoy your family).
Go outdoors: Going outdoors resets the brain. Focus on nature, look for rainbows, observe the green, look for signs of Spring. Just 30 minutes of outdoors can reset the brain and boost energy.
Walk/move your body: If you are in good health, walking and moving your body improves your health AND your mood. If you walk with a friend, remember social distance.
Hydration/nutrition: You know what’s good for you. Now is not the time to skimp.
Clean out garage/closet: Your trash is someone else’s treasure. Donate clothes/shoes/books to shelters. Many shelters are taking care of the less fortunate and those who are dealing with domestic violence. This is a good deed which can go a long way.
Family/friend/roommate time: If you have family/friends at home who are well, try to have game or movie time. OR binge watch a show you all love. Try it without everyone looking at their screens.
Make/send cards for the vulnerable: Convalescent homes have closed their doors to visitors for now. Creating a card can go a long way to brighten someone else’s day. This is a great activity with kids at home too!
Activities/puzzles/paint by number/LEGOs: anything which takes concentration and is creative.
Fun things on the internet: Museum tours and national park tours are now available on the internet. You can log in with a friend and face time as you observe museums and the beauty of national parks. You can even do 25 Disneyland rides! Google away to find these “getaways”.
Social media: This is a mixed bag – LOTS of info which is just depressing and SCARY – SCROLL BY. There are lots of funny memes and uplifting stories which can help you feel connected to your friends. Put your attention (and comments) there. If you can’t do this, it’s better to avoid altogether.
Practice gratitude daily: These are hard times, but it can always be worse. It is helpful to think of 3 things we are grateful for. Spend one minute each day thinking/reflecting/writing one individual thing about your life which brings you joy. Do this for 3 things each day.
Limit your ingestion of news and news outlets: Choose one or two news outlets you trust and check in with them at specific times of the day. Not 24/7. Yes, it is important to be informed but being focused on the negative news will slowly leave no room for anything else which will have you feeling better. It will also increase the cortisol (stress hormone) which reduces your immunity.
Cut yourself some slack: Plan small things which give you a sense of normalcy and control and be patient with big things which may need more time. For those who are now working at home, it takes awhile to get into your flow. Motivation in the beginning can be low because of the feeling that there is now a lot of time. Try to create a schedule which includes outdoor and down time and time to check in with others.
Procrastination: It’s easy to procrastinate when you feel you have tons of time and unpleasant or scary tasks. I use a 2-minute rule. If it takes 2 minutes or less, I just do it now. For things which will take longer, I tell myself I will start in 2 minutes. Usually starting can end the procrastination. Behave as if you have purpose and meaning.
Mental wellness: If you are already struggling with depression, anxiety, or OCD, understand that you may be triggered by the uncertainty. Use therapeutic tools such as breathing exercises, grounding exercises, muscle relaxation, and evidence for automatic negative thoughts. If things get difficult, please reach out. Therapists, in accordance with shelter in place, are equipped to provide telehealth. Telehealth uses online, phone, or email communication to provide counseling and therapy to those who are quarantined or unable to travel to the therapist’s office. Sessions are delivered over HIPAA compliant technology so that your sessions are private and confidential. While not the same as face to face sessions, telehealth can go a long way in re-establishing connection with yourself and help you find the purpose and meaning which will help you survive this quarantine and beyond.
These are just a few things I have researched that have worked well for others. Please let me know what works for you.
Sending good thoughts of good health your way,
Carine
I hope you are doing ok. I hope you are well and free from coronavirus. If you are safe at home, working at home, or sharing space at home with others, read on for some useful tips.
Remember, this is social distancing, not social disengagement. It is important to stay connected. .
As a matter of fact, engagement is more important now than ever as many of us are confined to our homes either by choice or by order. Humans are social animals with an innate need to connect; so, staying connected is going to be fundamental to wellbeing while we survive these times. We need to be creative on how to achieve it. Here are some ideas:
Give blood: The American Red Cross has reported a critical blood shortage. If you are healthy and able, donating blood goes a long way in helping and building a sense of connection with other humans.
Get Dressed and Make your Bed First Thing in the Morning: Behaving like you have purpose will create a sense of purpose.
Structure and Routine: Wake up at predictable and reasonable times. Create a schedule.
Shop for the elderly or vulnerable: if you have a neighbor, friend, or relative who is having a difficult time getting out, add their needs to your list the next time you go out. Many stores have shortages which are replenished the next day and it is difficult for the vulnerable to go out several times a week. Not only is this a good deed, doing things for others instills a sense of control and empowerment.
Call your friends/family: Have conversations. Many of them. Texting is great, but the flow of conversation which happens from a phone call or facetime is irreplaceable. Family zoom or facetime calls are fun (provided you enjoy your family).
Go outdoors: Going outdoors resets the brain. Focus on nature, look for rainbows, observe the green, look for signs of Spring. Just 30 minutes of outdoors can reset the brain and boost energy.
Walk/move your body: If you are in good health, walking and moving your body improves your health AND your mood. If you walk with a friend, remember social distance.
Hydration/nutrition: You know what’s good for you. Now is not the time to skimp.
Clean out garage/closet: Your trash is someone else’s treasure. Donate clothes/shoes/books to shelters. Many shelters are taking care of the less fortunate and those who are dealing with domestic violence. This is a good deed which can go a long way.
Family/friend/roommate time: If you have family/friends at home who are well, try to have game or movie time. OR binge watch a show you all love. Try it without everyone looking at their screens.
Make/send cards for the vulnerable: Convalescent homes have closed their doors to visitors for now. Creating a card can go a long way to brighten someone else’s day. This is a great activity with kids at home too!
Activities/puzzles/paint by number/LEGOs: anything which takes concentration and is creative.
Fun things on the internet: Museum tours and national park tours are now available on the internet. You can log in with a friend and face time as you observe museums and the beauty of national parks. You can even do 25 Disneyland rides! Google away to find these “getaways”.
Social media: This is a mixed bag – LOTS of info which is just depressing and SCARY – SCROLL BY. There are lots of funny memes and uplifting stories which can help you feel connected to your friends. Put your attention (and comments) there. If you can’t do this, it’s better to avoid altogether.
Practice gratitude daily: These are hard times, but it can always be worse. It is helpful to think of 3 things we are grateful for. Spend one minute each day thinking/reflecting/writing one individual thing about your life which brings you joy. Do this for 3 things each day.
Limit your ingestion of news and news outlets: Choose one or two news outlets you trust and check in with them at specific times of the day. Not 24/7. Yes, it is important to be informed but being focused on the negative news will slowly leave no room for anything else which will have you feeling better. It will also increase the cortisol (stress hormone) which reduces your immunity.
Cut yourself some slack: Plan small things which give you a sense of normalcy and control and be patient with big things which may need more time. For those who are now working at home, it takes awhile to get into your flow. Motivation in the beginning can be low because of the feeling that there is now a lot of time. Try to create a schedule which includes outdoor and down time and time to check in with others.
Procrastination: It’s easy to procrastinate when you feel you have tons of time and unpleasant or scary tasks. I use a 2-minute rule. If it takes 2 minutes or less, I just do it now. For things which will take longer, I tell myself I will start in 2 minutes. Usually starting can end the procrastination. Behave as if you have purpose and meaning.
Mental wellness: If you are already struggling with depression, anxiety, or OCD, understand that you may be triggered by the uncertainty. Use therapeutic tools such as breathing exercises, grounding exercises, muscle relaxation, and evidence for automatic negative thoughts. If things get difficult, please reach out. Therapists, in accordance with shelter in place, are equipped to provide telehealth. Telehealth uses online, phone, or email communication to provide counseling and therapy to those who are quarantined or unable to travel to the therapist’s office. Sessions are delivered over HIPAA compliant technology so that your sessions are private and confidential. While not the same as face to face sessions, telehealth can go a long way in re-establishing connection with yourself and help you find the purpose and meaning which will help you survive this quarantine and beyond.
These are just a few things I have researched that have worked well for others. Please let me know what works for you.
Sending good thoughts of good health your way,
Carine