De-stress and make the most of your time at home

News of the coronavirus (COVID-19) can be intense and worrisome causing harmful stress, especially to medical staff, but also to those who just need to stay home. After taking important steps to maintain the physical health of you and your loved ones, consider how you can minimize any negative consequences of physical social isolation.

After watching the news yesterday evening, I stumbled upon a couple of flash mob videos that were bitter sweet, reminding me of what has been lost for now, but also lightening the mood by taking a break from the news. Shown below are the two videos that I watched and several other resources for lifting your mood.

The day before we watched cute puppies:

Other things that you may want to consider are:

How powerful music can be. - By turning on music that soothes your soul and leaves you feeling more whole, it can help your emotional well-being during this challenging time.

Exercise - Your physical and emotional state can be maintained and even improved through exercises such as walking, dancing, yoga or Tai Chi.

Get outside while still keeping your distance. - As the weather begins to warm, it is a great time to get some fresh air and perhaps use the porch when it's raining.

Begin planting seeds. - Very soon we can be enjoying the flowers of Spring. The next time you go to the store for necessities, think about picking up seeds to start or order seeds online.

• Stay connected to others via the internet. - Take this time to strengthen friendships via calls or video "visits," or start new ones by joining groups such as Lawn & Garden communities, Garden.org, and other types of groups in your specific areas of interest.

• While social distancing, you may also want to use your time to learn something new. Check out links to free online classes for adults. 

Have a healthy and happy day!​