It's not rocket science, just some basic reminders on what we should be doing during this stressful time of the COVID-19 pandemic and EVERY day. None of this is anything you haven't heard before. All of these are things that we should all be doing every day to avoid getting sick.
Wash your hands and clean frequently touched surfaces.
We know that soap & water work the best. Hand sanitizer is for those times when you do not have access to soap & water. Wipe down your counters, your dinner table, your remote controls, your phones, your tablets, your computer keyboard...
Drink your water - all day long. These are strange times & we are all having to work to find our new normal. In all this distraction it's easy to lose track of when the last time you had a sip of your water. Work on keeping track and making sure you are getting enough every day. There are countless studies (including studies specific to this current virus) that cite the benefits or staying hydrated to stay well.
A side not to staying hydrated... I see so many people posting about all the adult beverages they are "needing" to deal with the stress of our current situation. I am here to tell you folks; this will NOT help in the long run. I will be the first to tell you that I do enjoy a glass of wine, but using it as a coping mechanism is NOT healthy. Again, this is an area where continuing to behave as we did before this outbreak is the better solution. (Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is currently struggling with addiction it is NOT OK to continue - this is the perfect time to get help! I will point you towards a qualified professional to help you with this if you need it. It is always a great time to work on bettering yourself.)
Get up & get dressed. Make your bed each day & avoid the temptation to get back into bed & binge watch the latest Netflix series (No I have NOT seen Tiger King). Eat your meals at regular times. Make yourself a list of what you need to accomplish that day & get to work on checking that list off. You will feel better at the end of the day & hopefully avoid other unhealthy habits because of this.
Get your rest.
Just because you are working from home, or maybe you've found yourself temporarily unemployed this is not the time to start staying up past your bedtime or sleeping in every day. Your body will perform better and be more likely to stay healthy if you continue to go to bed and get up at your regular times. It is known that those with sleep deprivation are far more likely to get sick from any virus or infection than those who are getting sufficient sleep.
If you've been working out then you need to KEEP working out. If you haven't been working out now is the PERFECT time to start. You will find yourself free of many of the excuses that were out there before; I forgot my workout clothes (you should be working from home), I don't have time (most activities are cancelled). There are a LOT of sample workouts on THIS VERY BLOG. Get outside - go for a walk or a bike ride or a run. Many fitness websites & apps are offering FREE workouts during this outbreak; take this opportunity to check some of them out! And whatever you do get your steps in! There is some very viable research out there regarding steps per day and mortality. You're shooting for 10,000 steps per day here people! So take your dog for a walk ~ they will love you for it!
Make healthy food choices.
Now is NOT the time to let your diet slip. Healthy, whole foods will help our bodies perform better. We will have more energy, we will sleep better, we will feel better. Fruits, Veggies, Heart Healthy Proteins, Water, you know the drill.
Supplements.
I have read a few (OK, y'all know I love to read. Make that A LOT.) articles about some specific things that have helped others regarding this specific virus. These are NOT cures. These are NOT preventative measures. These are supplements that are mentioned in articles about people who have gotten the virus and are surviving and improving. These supplements are not anything you have not heard of either, they are things that you may already be taking!
Vitamin D: You can get this by going for a quick walk outside, just 15 minutes will do the trick. I know a lot of people are already on supplements for this per their own doctors. If you are already taking one then great! Vitamin D is helpful for your immune system. Vitamin D has shown to help with respiratory illnesses in general & here in TX it is allergy season so it won't hurt to make sure you are not deficient in this vitamin.
Melatonin: Many of us already take this to help us maintain a healthy sleep schedule. If there's one thing I know for sure is that just about everything I read indicates that we need to be well rested and well hydrated to have the best outcome if/when we do get infected.
Again, I am not a doctor & none of this is ever meant to replace your doctor's advice. Doctors always should know more about the specifics of their patients and will be able to provide the best course of action for you as an individual. Also, I didn't write today to tell you anything new. If you did learn something from this post then GREAT! If anything I just want to reinforce some good decisions that can be made to help with our current situation.
We are all anxious. This time is new & unknown. But if we make some good decisions now we will come out of this stronger on the other side! So stay home, practice social distancing, wash your hands & just generally take care of yourself.
In Health!
Michelle
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