At this point in time, we are all impacted by recent escalating global COVID-19 quarantines. Now more than ever, it’s important to stay healthy, as well as physically and mentally stimulated.
Granted, the idea of binge-watching your favourite television show sounds like paradise after the usual hustle and bustle of non-stop work, it’s important that everyone remain in shape to the best of their abilities. We’ve put together this list of tips to help you stay physically and mentally fit while simultaneously fighting the sense of isolation associated with spending an extended period of time in social isolation.
COVID-19 Basics
Let’s start with the basics. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “there is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).” However, the CDC explains that “the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.”
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, to include:
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
It’s also important to follow the basic steps necessary to protect yourself from the virus:
- Clean your hand frequently: wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water especially when you have been in a public space, or after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. If soap is not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Whenever possible, avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes.
- Avoid close contact – avoid personal contact with people who are sick. Place a safe distance between yourself and others, even self quarantining if the virus is spreading through your community.
Additionally, you should stay at home if you are sick, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Focus on Self-care
Regardless of your location, whether at home or a hotel room, it’s important to maintain principles of self-care. Whenever possible, sitting all day should be avoided. If you are working from home, consider taking frequent breaks to tend to household tasks. You can even attempt that to-do list you’ve been putting off for the past few months.
It’s also important to get up and get dressed for the day. Even if you are temporarily working from home, shower and prepare for the day as you would if you were leaving the house to go to work. At the end of the day, treat yourself to a relaxing bath. These simple acts will go a long way to fulfilling your day.
Don’t Start Working as Soon as You Wake Up
It’s easy to start your day by opening your laptop or phone as soon as you wake up. Before you get lost in a sea of emails, create a normal morning routine. Make it a point to get up, shower, make a pot of coffee, read the morning news, and not look at your work emails until you’ve gotten up and are feeling awake and human.
On the opposite side of the day, set clear expectations for when will close up shop for the day. When you don’t have office beats to mark the passage of time, it’s very easy to lose track of your evening entirely and find yourself sitting in total darkness working the night away. Consider setting an alarm to remind you to log off at a normal hour.
Reach Out to Friends and Family
In spite of being forced to remain at home, you should still try to limit your isolation. Whenever possible, call, video chat, and reach out to your friends and family. Additionally, you can stay connected through social media. When you start to feel lonely or isolated, use your networks to engage with other people.
Play Games and Be Silly
Despite the wide variety of games online, there is something to be said about good old fashioned board games, puzzles, and word games (such as Sudoku and crossword puzzles). This is especially true if you are home for an extended period of time with your children.
While children are equipped to adapt to changes in their routine, it’s also important to recognize that they pick up on our moods. Depending on the child’s age, they may have difficulty accepting new changes to their routines. As such, you may see more irritability and problems with sleeping or eating. Aside from more hugs and love, being playful and silly together will go a long way to making children feel comfortable with their new normal.
Stay Active
Remaining physically active doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym for hours on end. In fact, you can remain relatively active without ever leaving your home. There’s a common misconception that expensive equipment is needed to exercise. From burpees and push-ups to lunges, mountain climbers and squats, all you need is your body weight. Not to mention, the internet makes it easy to access exercise videos to get your heart rate elevated and your body moving.
Keep Your Mind Active with The Brain Workshop
A stronger and faster brain will help you achieve your personal, academic, and professional goals. Regardless of your age or industry, stimulating your brain promotes long term neurological growth and development.
At the Brain Workshop, our customised one-on-one brain training exercises are designed to strengthen specific cognitive skills. Brain training is a simple and proven way to improve core learning abilities to achieve faster, easier, and more efficient learning. Brain training exercises work to improve memory, focus, academic performance, and daily functionality. In a nutshell, brain training is a workout for your brain.
Contact a member of our team to schedule your assessment today.
