As the pandemic continues and the way we typically work and play has changed drastically, we are spending more time at home, away from our friends and family. With limited social connection and disruption of routines, adjustments will happen for us all. It’s crucial to prioritize your emotional well-being during this time. And . . . self care is a crucial part of this, so try out some of the below tips as they will help reduce stress and anxiety, boost your mood, and support your overall health and wellness.

Give yourself kindness and compassion - While there are many things out of our control right now, one of those is not being kind to yourself. Pay attention and notice your feelings, practice self-compassion so that you do not beat yourself down if you are feeling more stressed or anxious at this time.
Avoid information overload - It’s important to be informed, however spending the day taking in media coverage can cause a shift to a negative mindset shrouded in panic. Make sure to take breaks to reduce stress and maintain a positive mindset and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Maintain a daily routine - Given all the changes that have taken place, try to maintain a routine as best as you can. Routines allow your days to maintain more structure, purpose, and some normalcy during this time. Try scheduling your mealtimes, workouts, or even virtual dinner dates in order to maintain some level of routine and consistency.
Try utilizing meditation and mindfulness practices to reduce stress and anxiety - Anxiety is rising and this is valid. However, stress and panic do not protect against this virus, in fact, when you worry this weakens your immune system. Try reducing your anxiety by trying out a variety of breathing techniques. There are numerous ways to practice breathing and finding some that best fit your needs.
Stay active - Make sure to move your body for at least 30 minutes per day in order to boost your energy and mood. With so many virtual exercise classes being offered, test out a few and find out what fits you best. Try looking up mindful stretching, this can boost your mood while also alleviating stress.
Consider opportunities for self-growth - With your new meditation skills and self-care practices, reflect on the things you may want to focus on and pivot toward as you move forward. You may find the pandemic as a perfect time for tackling goals and making changes you may have considered, but not delved deep into before. Think about changes you want to make to improve your well-being and ways in which you can do this in the future as well.
Focus on positive ways to boost your immunity - While it is unclear how we can prevent or reduce the impact this virus has, we can still engage in self-care strategies to boost our immunity, on top of remaining socially distant. Sea salt baths can reduce stress and improve immunity as well as reduce inflammation and increase mineral levels (Proksch, 2005). Reducing anxiety and stress also reduces cortisol levels, further enhancing your immunity. Also, interval temperatures in the shower can improve immunity as well (e.g. 1-minute warm, 15-seconds cold on repeat) (Buijze, 2016).

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