Surviving Social Distancing

This is an unprecedented time. The news we see everyday is alarming. Some of us are facing loss of work and pay. Even seeing empty grocery store shelves makes us wonder if we should be afraid of what's coming. We don't have control over our lives right now and that's extremely hard to grapple with. We all have our own reactions to uncertainty, and everything is harder without our favorite outlets- eating out, gathering with friends, going to the gym, even watching our favorite sports teams on tv. Despite the difficulty, I hope that we can accept who we are in a time of crisis and acknowledge that there's no one right reaction.

The good news is that we are not powerless to deal with what's going on. We can choose how we want to proceed with the limitations we have.

For starters, let's breathe for a few minutes. Make sure you breathe in from your deep belly, inflating your diaphragm. Hold for a count and exhale slowly, pushing the air down and all the way out of your body. Do this a few times and you are well on your way to meditating. Now, Inhale ACCEPTANCE (of yourself, the situation around us, new risks, new limitations...). Exhale COMPASSION (for yourself, those who've lost loved ones, those who are battling the virus, businesses that are struggling, people who are out of work, people who are lonely...). This is something you can revisit daily to put things into perspective and to help find appreciation for all the good things we're still able to enjoy!

While home can be a place of comfort, when forced to stay there, it can also feel like a cage. With all of this social distancing, you may find yourself bouncing off the walls. Downtime is kind of an art form at this point-- most of us are so unpracticed at it. In the name of making lemonade out of these lemons, here are some great ways to relax and recharge when you are forced out of your routine.

1) Take a walk in nature. While also a cardio activity, this is just not the same as riding your Peloton or jogging on the treadmill. Your body will absorb some much needed immune boosting vitamin D from the sun, even on a cloudy day. Vitamin D not only promotes good bone health, but also stabilizes mood, enables healthy weight management and plays a critical role in immune B cell and killer T cell vigilance against threats like strep, flu and other viruses.There are also electromagnetic charges in the earth and healthy bacteria in the soil that positively impact your body when they connect. So, if possible, kick off your shoes and really let your toes sink into the ground. In other words, let yourself become truly grounded.

2) Strengthen and stretch your body. If you've been to the Movement section of this site or you were at my last talk on Revisiting Your Fitness Goals, you already know that there are some important factors to address as part of any complete fitness program. To begin with, your joints need to move in all the right directions and with good range of motion. Your soft tissue should be supple and flexible with minimal adhesions and your body should be strong enough to lift a load and move fluidly in different planes and directions. This is motion as nature intended it.

Take some time to stretch your body everyday. If you have a foam roller, some rolling balls or a percussion massager, use them to break up tight fascia. Not only will you feel looser but you will be more relaxed and at ease as well.

Finally, use resistance training to build muscle, burn fat and optimize your body composition. I like to use functional moves like wood choppers and lunge with (torso) twist because they increase your functional capability and improve strength in multiple muscles at the same time-- efficient and effective! Make a circuit of 3-4 moves and do them 3-4 times in a row. It should only take about 15-20 minutes. Do this 2-3 days/week and you will feel the payoff in your strength, mood, sleep and energy levels.

3) Take the extra time to accomplish something from your ongoing To-Do List. When things are quieter than usual is really a great opportunity to do the things you've been meaning to do but putting off. So, go ahead, file those papers that have been stacking up on your desk! Organize that closet that's overflowing with donation candidates. The beauty of it is that you can choose whatever strikes your fancy in the moment. Outdoor spaces overloaded with weeds and leaves? Get your exercise by weeding and clearing. You will feel better in that space and feel accomplished that you've taken care of business. In my life, the list is eternal, but crossing things off it is totally gratifying.

4) Teach yourself a new skill or learn about a subject you find interesting. Have you ever uttered the words, "I've always wanted to learn xyz." Now is the perfect time to satisfy that curiosity. YouTube is loaded with tutorials for just about anything you can think of, so peruse the material and pursue something new. You could come out of this seclusion playing the ukulele (that's one from my list) and growing your own micro-greens. Maybe you can learn how to invest just in time to maximize on the market's downturn. You can even watch Marie Kondo videos to learn how to effectively clear the clutter out of your home, tackling a chore and learning a skill all in one. Winning!

5) Brew some microbe-busting tea and curl up to read a book that's been gathering dust on your nightstand. Some of our best immune boosting tools come from nature. Botanicals like turmeric are well-known for their anti-inflammatory affects. Other plants are powerful pathogen fighters, and many of these are easily accessible and available as teas. My favorite anti-microbial teas are licorice root, lemon balm, raspberry leaf and ginger. This winter, I experimented with mixing botanicals to find my favorite combination (licorice and hibiscus-- the tangy, spicy combo is simply delicious). You can do the same and enjoy a cup of warm goodness that is quietly fighting for your health.

What goes better with a hot cup of tea than a good book? I currently have a stack of no less than five books cluttering my nightstand at this very moment, just waiting for me to dig in. If you don't have a line-up ready, ask a friend for a recommendation, check Oprah's book list or visit your local bookstore on Facebook to see what's trending. Reading stimulates your mind, calms your energy and can even help you fall asleep. Whether you prefer fiction or non-fiction, find something that allows you to step into a new world, makes your wheels turn and fills you with wonder.

6) Call a friend for some long-distance laughs. When I first moved here, my bestie and I had a hard time dealing with our new-found distance. We would call each other on a Friday night and have a phone happy hour. The connection was the same, even though we were in different states. In fact, even when I'm not social distancing, I often pick up the phone for some needed support and friendship. It's just another self-care practice, like meditating or going for a jog. We are social beings. Feeling connected is important for our mental health. Calling, visiting from afar, even hugging your furry friend will probably do the trick. Find a way to be social that lets you laugh and be light-hearted for a timely escape.

We may be limited in what we can do right now, but we are also so much bigger than the freedoms we have always enjoyed. As we see in videos of neighbors singing together through their open windows, we find creative ways to communicate and support one another. We bridge gaps, share tips, even celebrate from afar. We are resilient. It is just that trait that will see us through these trying times. If there is anything I can do to support you, please reach out. For now, my best wishes for your continued health and happiness.

If you've been inspired to try any of these tips, post a pic in the comments.