4 Ways to Lead a Stress-Free Life During Coronavirus

It seems like these days the Coronavirus is scarier than the Bogeyman and a hoard of zombies combined, and that fear can lead you straight into an anxious spiral of stocking up on too much toilet paper and boarding up your windows and doors.

But before you coin yourself the newest neighborhood recluse, check out these four easy ways to lead a stress-free life amongst all the Corona craziness. Whether you’re part of the AFC program or not, these tips will surely help!

1. Get moving. Fitness centers may be closed, but that doesn’t mean that all physical activity should stop. The National Council on Aging strongly recommends that older adults make an effort to stay active with at-home exercises that focus on balance, flexibility, and strength. But physical activity doesn’t just have to be weightlifting in your basement. Avoid couch-potato habits and create your own aerobics workout by walking briskly around the house during commercial breaks or fill up two reusable bags with canned goods and walk up and down your stairs with the bags in hand.

Head outdoors! You can your caregiver should make a point to get outside for a walk or jog and some fresh air. The American College for Sports Medicine put together some other great suggestions for staying active during the pandemic. Remember, staying physically active is the key to a healthy immune system so be sure to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine.

2. Opt for delivery services. Social distancing has made necessary daily activities, like grocery shopping, difficult. Peapod, Instacart, FreshDirect, and Amazon Fresh are great grocery delivery options, allowing you to avoid those long lines, empty shelves, and icky shopping carts. Their fast delivery and access to hard-to-find supplies make this a safer option than venturing to your local grocer. Pharmacies like CVS are also offering free delivery on prescriptions so you don’t have to sacrifice essential medications during this time.

3. Stay connected. Quarantining can leave a lot of older adults, especially those living alone, feeling isolated and out of the loop. Although spending time with family and friends can improve morale dramatically, in-person social gatherings will have to wait for now. But there’s no need to become a total recluse during these times.

EraLiving.com suggests scheduling virtual visits with friends and family. Tools like Skype and FaceTime are easy to download and simple to use, making it a great way to see loved ones, minus the physical contact. Online discussion groups like  SENIORSonly CLUB are the new coffee shop! You can virtually connect and engage with like-minded individuals on your favorite topics and hobbies, making for some great conversation. Try bringing snail mail back! There’s nothing like a handwritten letter from your favorite person to turn a bad day great. Start corresponding the old fashion way with fun handwritten letters to your grandkids or best friends.

4. Stop worrying. It’s easy to get stressed out these days. Every newspaper, magazine, news channel, and your neighbors are all talking about one thing. This virus has completely taken over our lives, so how can you expect anything pleasant to be on your mind? But all that anxiety is actually hurting your immune system during a time when it needs to be working its hardest! When our bodies are under a certain degree of stress our immune system will step in to help, forcing it to put other pressing matters on the back burner, like fighting a virus. That undue stress can wear down our immune system, weakening it and making it more susceptible to nasty viruses. Healthline.com details the effects stress can have on the body. Take some time away from all the Corona talk and distract your mind with constructive activities. Pull out your favorite cookbook and try a new recipe. Open up that dusty puzzle on your bookshelf that you’ve always been meaning to finish. Try your hand at watercoloring or sketching. Whatever your stress-free activity is, make sure it allows your mind to become distracted from the Corona craziness.

As you process all the new information being released every day about Coronavirus, think back to these four stress-free tips to ease your mind. Remember to absorb factual information from reliable sources, make small changes to your health and wellness routine, and be aware. Listen to your body and contact your health care provider with any uncertainties. And now more than ever try your best to find happiness in the small things.

If you are living alone or with a loved one and are interested in learning how to connect with MetroCare of Springfield to see how we can help. Please contact us on our website or at (413) 729-4499.