In these stressful times…

Most of us are probably being affected by Covid 19, the coronavirus crisis. Unless, that is, you’ve had the opportunity to vacation on another planet for the past two months. Isn’t it amazing how we are so interconnected that a contagious virus can spread so rapidly around the world?

With any crisis comes anxiety. Even if we don’t become ill with the virus, we still feel the stress, which has negative impact on our wellness. This post offers some suggestions for helping us cope with this situation:

Listen to trusted sources to get the facts about the coronavirus.

We need accurate information to make decisions about the safety of ourselves and our family. The internet and social media can sometimes terrify us without providing accurate details. Your decisions should be based on factual information.

As much as possible, avoid social contact.

The virus is extremely contagious. If staying home is an option, that’s the safest place to be–for you and for others. When in public, the workplace, or the grocery store, practice social distancing (six feet away). Even if you are confident in being able to successfully survive the virus, consider the possibility that you might pass the virus on to someone more vulnerable. You might save someone’s life by limiting your social contacts. And remember–WASH HANDS!

Maintain physical activity.

Being physically active is very helpful in controlling stress. If you are sheltering at home, there are still ways to be physically active.

• If you can go outside, take a walk, work in your yard, or complete some of those outdoor chores you’ve been putting off.
• When inside, there are lots of exercises that can be completed without equipment: stretching, push-ups, squats, lunges, crunches, leg lifts, plank, jog in place, etc. (you can find additional information under the wellness tab on this blog).
• There are online sources for yoga, meditation, aerobics, dance, and more. Google or U-tube can be your friend in finding activities for fitness and stress relief.
• Try to set aside some time every day for activity. This can be split up into small 5 to 10 minute increments, but aim for at least 30 minutes of activity each day.

Quiet time, meditation, and prayer.

No matter what your religious beliefs, quiet time can be beneficial in reducing stress. For believers, prayer, reading scripture, and time alone with God bring peace and comfort. But for each of us, quiet time and relaxation techniques (such as deep breathing) help us cope with anxiety.

Consider what we can do for others

In times of crisis, it is natural to turn inward, particularly if illness or loss of financial security has already occurred in your family. In those cases, please seek help from the multiple resources that are currently available (or soon will be according to news reports). But even in our own misery, it is helpful to us and others when we reach out in kindness to assist others in need.

If you have additional suggestions to help us relieve stress during these troubled times, please share a comment for us. I’m praying for your protection and safety and good health for all of us.

Wishing you good health, safety, and security, my friends.