NUTRITION AND WELLNESS GUIDE TO SELF-ISOLATING: PART IV
This last part of the guide is going to focus on staying positive and productive during times of coronavirus isolation and uncertainty.
Allow space for your anxiety and sadness. Then let it go.
There are inevitably going to be emotional ups and downs during this time. It is important to allow ourselves to feel the lows, but not to get stuck in them. If you find yourself feeling too low for too long, try cheering yourself up by calling a friend or a family member. Seek professional help if necessary.
Avoid stress eating. But if you do, also let that go.
While we are all feeling more stress than normal, we need to recognize that stress eating only exacerbates our stress. We stress eat and then we feel bad about what we just ate. Try not to keep triggering foods around and if for some reason you do succumb, just let it go. Stressing about it will only further the cycle of stress.
Look ahead.
Taking everything one day at a time is essential to maintaining sanity; however, it is important to remember that eventually this will end. If we don’t see an end in sight, this would be too much to bear. An end will come – envision who you want to be and how you want to feel when it does.
Take advantage of the down time.
So many clients complain that their fast-paced lives get in the way of their goals, wellness or otherwise. This quarantine has forced us to slow down. Take advantage of the fact that there are no distractions – no parties, group dinners, or travel plans – and focus on what you want to achieve.
Set mini goals.
Working in one-week increments helps us achieve large, daunting goals. Set a goal for each week — whether it be workouts clocked, weight lost, etc. and celebrate the small victories. This will help you stay motivated to keep going.
Make a list of recreational activities that you can do inside.
Play games, watch movies, binge a TV show, read books. Even have an indoor solo-dance party!
Don’t underestimate the power of endorphins.
Find an indoor workout you like. Aside from helping to stay in shape, the mental benefits of exercise are priceless.
And with that, we are going to resume with regularly scheduled blogs and recipes.
In the meantime, stay safe and stay healthy.