Close

Health and Wellness Activities During Challenging Times

JUMP TO

In challenging times, it’s more important than ever to prioritize your health and wellness. Stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on your health, causing both physical and emotional symptoms that can take over if you’re not careful. There are effective ways to manage your stress and keep your daily life both productive and happy. Whenever possible, try to keep your regular routine going, even when you face challenging times.

Stress Management

When life seems to come at you from every direction, it’s common to feel stressed out. You can manage your response to stress in several ways. First, try to keep yourself calm with positive self-talk that is encouraging and motivating. Instead of thinking that you can’t do something, tell yourself that you can do it. Engage in stress-busting activities such as meditation, exercise, listening to music, enjoying hobbies, or playing with a pet. If the stress feels overwhelming, try virtual therapy with a therapist.

Sleep

Getting enough high-quality sleep every night is crucial for wellness. Have a consistent routine that includes going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time every morning. Your sleeping environment should be dark, quiet, and cool. Remove electronic devices from your bedroom, and try not to use electronics for a couple of hours before you go to bed so your body can relax and be ready for sleep. Don’t consume caffeine, alcohol, or a large meal before you go to bed.

Exercise

Being physically active every day has a variety of benefits. First, you’ll find it easier to manage your weight. Your body will also be healthier and stronger when you exercise. It’s not necessary to exercise to extremes. Working out at a moderate pace every day for about 45 to 60 minutes should be enough to get your heart pumping and work your muscles. You’ll probably find it easier to sleep when you exercise regularly, too.

Nutrition

Eating a healthy diet reduces your risk of diseases, improves your longevity, and helps you look better. Incorporating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into your diet can be delicious and healthy. Try to eat a source of protein with every meal, choose whole grains, and use healthful fats in your cooking, such as olive oil.

Moderate Amounts of Screen Time

It can be tempting to use electronic devices more heavily during challenging times. If you feel like you’re using your phone or other device more than you should, there are ways to cut back. Make a screen time limit for yourself. Install an app that will keep track of your screen time to notify you when you reach the daily limit. Or instead of watching something on your device, listen to a podcast. You can even multitask while you listen.

Hobbies

Learning a new skill or hobby can help you feel productive. Learning a new language can enhance your connection with another culture, and it often improves your memory and critical thinking skills as well. You could also branch out and learn how to do a new hobby. For example, learning how to paint or draw will allow you to make art that you can display in your home, sell, or give away.

Staying Connected

If you can’t see other people in person, there are still ways to stay connected. You can use virtual platforms to schedule video meetings, and you can include whole groups of people in these meetings. Use your smartphone, tablet, or computer to make video calls to friends and family. You could also plan a game night or watch a movie together. Or you could go analog and write letters to people you miss: Everyone loves getting mail.