I’m going to put on my Registered Nurse hat for a moment and talk about ways you can stay healthy during this temporary “new normal” of practicing social distancing and self-isolation, as we try our best to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
I’m best equipped to give general guidance and mental health recommendations, so if you have any questions about any of these recommendations, please ask me or a medical professional you trust.
Let’s get to it!
Find ways to connect virtually
- Online gaming is an entertaining (and often hysterical) way to connect with friends and family while we’re all cooped up. We found a bunch of great recommendations at Lifehacker for websites that allow you to play games virtually with your crew, including Cards Against Humanity and Monopoly.
You can still have happy hour — you just have to be your own bartender! Several services offer free options for video conferencing, including Zoom and Google Hangouts. - Watch a classic favorite or brand new movie with your friends, made better with your own colorful group commentary, via Netflix Party.
- Online gaming is an entertaining (and often hysterical) way to connect with friends and family while we’re all cooped up. We found a bunch of great recommendations at Lifehacker for websites that allow you to play games virtually with your crew, including Cards Against Humanity and Monopoly.
- You can still have happy hour — you just have to be your own bartender! Several services offer free options for video conferencing, including Zoom and Google Hangouts.
- Watch a classic favorite or brand new movie with your friends, made better with your own colorful group commentary, via Netflix Party.
Get some exercise & do some healthy things
- You can still safely walk around your neighborhood or visit other outdoor spaces, as long as you keep adhering to social distancing guidelines. The National Recreation and Park Association recently published a guide to keeping a safe physical distance outdoors in parks and on trails during the pandemic.
- Yoga is a wonderful way to exercise indoors, with many benefits. I tend to recommend the YouTube channel Yoga With Adriene, because she has a gentle style and voice, and video sessions for people at every level.
- Take simple steps to help your immune system run at its optimum. Namely: drink plenty of water, get a good night’s sleep, and ingest your recommended level of Vitamin C.
Treat yo self
- Now’s the time to give yourself an at-home spa day: facial, mani/pedi, body scrub… the works. You need to feel some self value right now! The world’s gone (temporarily) mad, but it’s important to keep feeling fab.
- Browse the deals being offered by small, locally-owned shops, and make some purchases from them online. For once, shopping is altruistic: you’ll not only give yourself a boost by having some new outfits for post-quarantine time (or a gift to send to a lonely friend or family member), you’ll provide meaningful support to a neighbor whose small business is struggling. If you’re in the Lancaster area, start here.
Keep busy with soothing activities
- Yep, the stir-craziness is already setting in. To keep our hands busy while still relaxing, we’re getting into adult coloring books and puzzles.
- Peer into the depths of those kitchen cabinets and try some new recipes. This website and app allows you to enter ingredients you have on hand, then lists recipes you can make with what you’ve got.
- Start your springtime garden safely by ordering supplies from a local retailer or regional service like Perfect Pots or BloomBox.
Trust me: you’ve got this, because we’ve got this. We’re all in this together.
In hemp health,
Heather