The steps necessary to sustain physical wellness are almost second-nature to many of us now: stay six feet away from others, washing your hands frequently, and avoiding public areas as much as possible. Isolate for fourteen days if you’ve come into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus, and try to avoid travel as much as possible. This may be difficult to fathom with holiday season coming up, but don’t worry, there are many ways to connect with friends and family even if you can’t meet in person! Check out the article we wrote a few weeks ago about staying safe during Thanksgiving – many of the tips are applicable to other festivals as well – and look into socially-distanced or virtual holiday programming that may be offered in your area. 

Maintaining mental health, on the other hand, is understandably more difficult, especially after enduring nearly nine months of COVID-related restrictions on typical life. If you feel more anxious or stressed at this time than you normally do, you’re not alone – rates of depressive symptoms are much higher than they were just two years ago, mirroring levels often seen after traumas like natural disasters and terrorist attacks; meanwhile, a decrease in social interaction has taken a toll on the anxiety and stress levels of teenagers and young adults in school or college. However, there are a few things you can do to prevent or reduce poor mental health symptoms:

1. Eat Well and get Enough Sleep. PackHealth has a list of healthy recipes you can try here, and aim to get at least eight hours of rest every night.

2. Take Time for Yourself. Meditation, Journaling, and other methods can be incredibly stress-relieving and relaxing while giving you a quiet space to reflect and center yourself. 

3. Exercise Regularly. Along with reducing the risk of developing conditions like heart disease and diabetes, physical activity has also been shown to improve cognition and mood. For tips on exercising at home, check out our blog post on the topic here!

4. Connect with Others. Just because you can’t meet in-person doesn’t mean you have to isolate yourself completely! A quick Zoom chat or text conversation can go a long way. 

Essential workers and their families may face additional stressors, which is where MD COVIDSitters can help. MDCS is dedicated to helping the families of essential workers in the DMV Area during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering a variety of free, volunteer-run programs, including online art, dance, and exercise classes—so if you need a way to destress at the end of the week, or just want something fun to do with your family, MDCS is the place to call! They also provide childcare, pet-sitting, grocery, and errand services, and all volunteers are required to pass a background check and childcare program developed by the Minnesota Department of Health before starting, making them an incredibly safe and reliable organization.

Learn more about MD COVIDsitters and sign up for their services here.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2770146

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/12/health/covid-teenagers-mental-health.html

https://packhealth.com/quarantine-recipes-your-master-list-of-easy-and-healthy-recipes/