Taking Care of Your Body and Mind
Avoiding Cabin Fever While Staying Healthy
Many individuals are struggling with their personal wellness during the pandemic. Between winter’s lingering cold and gray days and the inability to get out of the house for normal activities, it can be easy to let your physical fitness and well-being fall off the radar.
In the midst of any difficult situation, it is so important to remember that this too shall pass. As we wait for the pandemic to pass, you cannot wait to prioritize your health and wellness. Try to stay positive, keep moving, and take advantage of any opportunity to promote your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. If you do not know where to start, we have a few ideas:
Get outside.
This sounds simple, but if at all possible, make an effort to bundle up and head outdoors, even if only for a few minutes a day. The boost of sunshine and fresh air will make a difference. Taking short walks and gradually building up your distance can be an excellent way to get in shape. Consider downloading and listening to a podcast or utilizing your local library for free audiobooks. For example, the Cuyahoga County Public Library offers a large digital collection.
Go virtual.
If you are feeling bored with your normal at-home workouts, try something different! While some gyms and fitness centers remain closed, many are offering live classes through Zoom and other platforms for free or a discounted cost. This can be a great way to stay connected from home and a motivator for sticking to your workouts. If joining a live class is not your preference, tap into the thousands of workout videos available on YouTube, from aerobics and dance cardio to Zumba and yoga.
Cook a new recipe.
Stressful times can make it difficult to eat as healthy as we should. If you have access to a smartphone or tablet, download a free cooking app like Allrecipes Dinner Spinner or Yummly. Just like with your workouts, you can also find plenty of tutorials and cooking lessons online. Morrison Living, our food service vendor, offers a fun Virtual Teaching Kitchen series featuring their chef Bal Arneson. In this video, Chef Arneson teaches you how to cook with turmeric, which has proven benefits as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
We hope these ideas inspire you to prioritize your health and well-being during COVID-19. If we can provide any additional resources, please let us know.