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I am not a Mental Health Expert by any means but what I am sharing today is some of my general thoughts as a healthcare provider as well as my personal experience.
Stress is real, we all are in it & we all are feeling it in some way, shape or form. Whether it is the economic worry, stress of loved ones being safe or what the future looks like, we are all in this together.
So sharing some tips & tricks of how we can take better care of our mental & physical health in these uncertain times together:
Tip No. 1: Schedule Some Video Time with Friends/Family
Humans are social. Going from seeing a certain group of people on the regular to not seeing them at all can be daunting & take a toll on you before you know it. So make sure to schedule some Video time with your people; your tribe!
Anything we can do to bring some normalcy to our existing lives will help. Do not take this small feature for granted. And if you are up to it, reach out to friends who haven’t heard from you in a long time. Being in Quarantine does not mean we have to detach completely!
Tip No 2: Meditation Helps!
I am just as guilty of not following this one as anyone else. I mean I have heard & read a million times of how meditation can help deal with stress but yet fail to follow it consistently. I do dabble with it occasionally but it never sticks.
So let’s work on this one together, let’s start adding a 5 to 10 minute meditation routine to our lives. If you want to get savvy, get the Mindspace app to guide you through it. It does help (from the few times I have tried it) & seen some solid research on it!
Tip No. 3: Plan Your Meals
Being stuck at home all day (with your spouse &/or kids) is no easy feat with little to no options of eating out. It could get stressful if you are working, homeschooling kids & now have to worry about meals of the day in addition. It could get very easy to dab into those unhealthy snacks when there are not many options.
So start planning your meals a day before or at least the morning of so you have some good healthy stuff stocked up & you are not constantly reaching out for those unhealthy snacks. Trust me, it helps with your physical as well as emotional health. In fact, a lot of people are falling into emotional eating from the stress & anxiety and that is not going to help!
Tip No. 4: Pursue a Hobby
Ok, this is the time to pursue the hobbies (paint, play guitar, read books) everything you have had on your list for a while but never got the chance to get to it. I know I have a fairly long list of projects that I have always wanted to get to. The “feel good” sensation from getting to these new projects will help take that stress & anxiety away and you might be pretty proud of yourself!
Tip No. 5: Get Moving (Yes, this one is my favorite)
Last but not the least, this is certainly my favorite. I vouch for it & follow it pretty consistently. Yes, Get moving- inside the house, outdoors with your dog, solo whatever that looks like for you. Get moving & the release of endorphins will boost your physical & emotional health!
Want to know more?
If you like these tips & are looking for some more personalized help with your Back/Neck/Shoulder or Knee Problem, you can start by requesting a Free Discovery Session with your Pain Specialist for Our Video Visit Program. You do not have to stay stuck in pain, we can help you either In person or Virtually. We know that Telehealth or Video Visits is new to most people but we have been doing it for over 2.5 years & it works. Give it a try, you won’t regret it!
Our Office is Still Open for In-Person appointments as the Department of Homeland Security has identified Physical Therapy as an Essential service. However, if you are unable to come to the Office, most of our patients are using Our Video Visits Option where they get the Help they Need with their Specialist from the Convenience & Safety of their Home!