INSIGHT Magazine Special Home Edition April 2020 | Page 32

STAYING HEALTHY 3. NATURE. Get outside and let the sun hit your face when you can. The sun activates serotonin in your brain. It’s a happy chemical. 4. MOVE. Whether you are doing a home exercise routine like yoga, HIIT, jogging through the neighborhood, or walking to the mailbox, movement is good for the body and the mind. 5. CONNECT. There are so many options to stay connected or reconnect with your social circle, family, and friends. Regardless of the platform, reach out to your people. 6. PLAN. It can be a flexible schedule but consider what you want to accomplish each day. This will create a sense of order during a somewhat chaotic period. Self care can fall into one of these 6 categories and I encourage you to practice as many of them as possible. 6. Sensory self-care. Sight, smell, touch, sound. Whether it’s candles, essential oils, listening to soothing music, or walking barefoot through the grass, remember to nourish your senses. By practicing mindful self-care we can all grow through this pandemic and come out healthier and mentally stronger than before. If the uncertainty and the isolation is too much for you to handle alone, we want to remind you that there are resources available to you. Reach out for help. Contact your insurance company, find a provider, and schedule an appointment (most therapists and counselors are accepting clients via Telehealth). You can explore your stress symptoms with a health professional in the comfort of your own home. 3. Spiritual self-care. Nourishing your soul, finding purpose and meaning. Whether you are journaling, hiking, or practicing another form of self-care to combat the stresses of COVID-19, remember that this too shall pass. Better days are coming. Soon we won’t worry about whether we can buy toilet paper or if someone is standing the allotted 6 feet distance from us. Our kids will go back to school. We will go back to work. And we’ll finally be able to enjoy cheese dip and margaritas at our favorite Mexican restaurants. 4. Intellectual self-care. Nourish and challenge your mind. Read a book, learn a new language, or watch a documentary on a topic that interests you. There are free resources available for mental health and self-care, most of them are at your fingertips by a quick Google search. 5. Social self-care. Connecting to your inner circle. National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1- 800- 273- 8255 ✽ 1. Physical self-care. Nutrition, physical exercise, and adequate rest. 2. Emotional self-care. Mindfulness and meditation, being aware of your emotions. 33 April 2020 – Special Home Edition INSIGHT