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The pandemic has changed everyone’s normal, and fitness culture is no exception. Between slowed supply lines and safety ordinances, nearly every athlete has had to alter their standard routine. If the fact that many gyms have been closed for more than six months has prevented you from reaching your goals, these tips might help you restore your life-exercise balance and get back on track to the body you deserve.

Find a Class

Gyms might be closed, but that doesn’t mean class is cancelled. Many gyms and private instructors have started offering their lessons online; now, attending class is a simple as moving the coffee table and joining a video call.

Some gyms offer virtual classes as part of their subscription models, but you can also find classes run by private instructors. Your favorite trainer might be running a class – and if they’re not, they’ll probably know someone who is. Remember to check the type of exercise, the skill level, and any tech or equipment requirements before you get started.

Explore the Outdoors

The vast outdoors is the perfect place to get rid of that cabin fever that you’ve surely accumulated in quarantine. Running is the ideal form of socially-distanced outdoor exercise, but you can also try going for a walk or enjoying an outdoor session of your favorite yoga routine.

If you’re lucky enough to have a back yard, there’s nothing wrong with staying safely quarantined on your own property. Otherwise, the safest way to exercise may be to go for a run through your neighborhood or around the track at your local park. Remember to stay well-distanced from other runners; with gyms closed, they’re sure to be around.

Exercise Cautiously

Pandemic restrictions vary by area, and you should always comply with local ordinances. In addition to your city’s recommendations, you can follow a few tips to make sure that your workout doesn’t contribute to the spread:

• Wear a mask. Even if you don’t like wearing a mask while running, the truth is that you need a facial covering if you’re going to go into a business or have a conversation. Try choosing a mask that you can put on quickly if someone approaches your exercise path.
• Bring your own water. The last thing you want to do during a pandemic is drink from a water fountain. Always have your own water bottle with you. You probably shouldn’t expect a refill, so you may want to buy a larger bottle. Remember not to rinse your bottle in public sinks; always wash it out as soon as you get home.
• Sanitize as you go. A pocket-sized pack of sanitizing wipes will make your adventures a lot safer for you and the other people who may pass through the same environment. Exercise equipment should be sanitized both before and after use, even if it’s in your own home. You can also use wipes to quickly prevent the virus from spreading on park benches, door handles, and other utilities.

Staying fit is about motivation. No matter how your conditions change, a positive attitude will help you power through so you can become the person you want to be.

 

Living through a pandemic isn’t easy, and the toll on the world’s mental health is obvious. Even if you don’t feel like COVID has you stressed, the extended quarantine is still a great excuse to make sure you’re in a happy and healthy mental state.

Take a Media Break

If you’re feeling stressed and nervous, one of the first things you should do is turn off your news feed. A flux of negative headlines has been shown to cause headline stress disorder, and 2020 has certainly delivered on the hard-to-handle news.

Make a commitment to spending an entire day without accessing the internet. Use this time to check in with your family members, complete a few chores, and generally regain a sense of stability. When you’re ready to turn the computer back on, pay attention to whether your use is excessive. You may want to set limits or adjust your habits to better accommodate your lifestyle.

Rotate Your Hobbies

When work and life blend together, monotony gains a whole new meaning. You may be sick and tired of watching the same shows, playing the same games, and looking at the same environment. Although you can’t necessarily change your surroundings, you can definitely add variety to your list of favorite pastimes.

Some people already have a hobby that they’ve been neglecting to try, but other people may struggle to find variation in their free time. Even small variations, such as watching a new genre of television show, can help get you out of a mental rut; don’t be afraid to make changes that work well for you.

Watch Your Overall Health

It’s hard to be mentally healthy when you’re not physically healthy. Before you pay too much attention to your anxiety, make sure that you’re taking care of your basic needs. This includes getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and eating a relatively balanced diet. If you’re not exercising, you should probably start at least a small routine; however, be aware that anxiety may also be caused by over-exertion.

Staying healthy can also include taking care of your environment and your responsibilities. If you feel stressed, it might be because something needs to get done. Take a quick look around to see if you’ve done your laundry and paid your bills. Just remember to relax once your chores are done; after all, your goal is to decrease your anxiety.

Don’t forget that if you’re struggling with your mental health, you can always reach out to us here at CCPS. We’ll be happy to help you make a virtual appointment and discuss your problems in a safe and comfortable space.

As the needs of the economy become undeniable, many officers are considering reopening and assuming close-to-normal operations. If you find out that you’ll be sent back to work, you can use these tips to stay safe.

1) Wear Your Mask
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is an aerosol, and that means it can spread easily through small, enclosed environments like offices. The best way to protect yourself from exposure is to always wear a mask while you are indoors and especially when you are in a poorly-ventilated room, such as a private office.

Your mask should sit comfortably on your face. If it fits too tightly or slides around while you’re working, you might need to get a different size. Look for masks that are made from multiple layers of cotton; it should be thick enough to provide decent filtration, but it shouldn’t be so thick that you overheat.

Wear a fresh mask every day, and always keep an extra mask with you. If someone breaks social distancing and you worry that you might have been exposed, switch masks as soon as you get the chance.

2) Take Your Breaks Outside
You really shouldn’t take your mask off while you’re indoors. Still, people need breaks to eat, drink water, and get out from under that hot fabric.

The solution is to take outdoor breaks as often as your employer will allow you to. Try to step out for a few minutes once every two hours. Wash or sanitize your hands, pull your mask down, breathe the fresh air, and have a drink of water. Then pull your mask back up, wash your hands again, and get back to work.

Likewise, you should take your lunch breaks outside. Keep your distance and avoid conversations while your mask is down. As cold weather looms, talk to your employer about adding wind guards, overhangs, and other protections that will keep staff comfortable on breaks without reducing the benefits of outdoor ventilation.

3) Communicate Virtually
Coronavirus spreads person to person, so don’t have face-to-face conversations unless you have to. Even if you work in the same office as someone, it may be safer and more convenient to handle simple communications online.

Talk to your employer about finding an instant messaging solution that works for the entire office. This will allow you to maintain a steady flow of communication without disrupting other services like phone and email. Avoid meeting rooms; a closed environment full of people from different departments is a recipe for disaster.

4) Avoid Unnecessary Stops
One of the worst-case scenarios for an office environment is that someone will catch COVID-19 and bring it with them to the rest of their coworkers. You can’t control every interaction that you have, but you can definitely limit the number of chances you have to be exposed.

Resist the temptation to stop somewhere for breakfast on your way to work. If you do need to stop somewhere, try to take advantage of drive-through or curbside pickup. Avoid stepping into an enclosed indoor space, especially if there is a line inside.

5) Know When to Stay Home
2020 is not a year to be shy about sick days. If you feel even the beginnings of a head cold, stay home for at least a day. If the symptoms start to worsen, get tested, and continue to self-isolate.

You should also insist on quarantining if one of your coworkers arrives with any kind of symptoms. Quick coronavirus tests generally take around 3 days. If you’ve been exposed, you could spread countless of infections in that time. It’s much safer to have everyone work from home until the test comes back negative.

You might not have a choice to stay home from work, but you can still act as a responsible member of the community. Prioritize the health of your family, your coworkers, and yourself; if you feel sick, stay home.

Are your kids heading back to school? Although staying home is the best way to prevent coronavirus exposure, there are still a few things you can do to approach the school semester as safely as possible.

Gearing Up for Class
School supplies this year are going to look quite different from previous semesters. In addition to pencils and books, you should make sure that your kids have the following items for safety and survival:

Masks: Your kid should be wearing a clean mask every day. Make sure the mask fits, and provide a few extras for their backpack. If the mask is disposable, it will need to be changed before the school day is over.

Hand sanitizer: Give your child a pocket-sized bottle of hand sanitizer, and encourage them to use it frequently. Remember to refill or replace the bottle regularly throughout the school year.

Prepackaged snacks: Kids get hungry throughout the day, but you don’t necessarily want them standing in the cafeteria line. Provide plenty of healthy snacks in disposable packaging – and don’t forget the bottled water.

Extra supplies: When borrowing a pencil could mean catching a virus, no kid should be coming to school unprepared. Ask teachers what supplies your kids need to have to succeed.

Teaching Social Distancing
Let’s face it: you’re not going to convince a child to stay apart from their closest friends. At some point, they’re going to have a conversation, toss a ball back and forth, or share a snack with a hungry classmate. The fact that student bodies are so vulnerable is precisely why it’s so important to protect them.

However, although you might not be able to isolate children completely, you can help them understand basic social distancing practices. Things like mask-wearing and hand-washing truly do reduce community spread, and students deserve the chance to protect themselves and their friends.

Teach your kids to be aware of how germs spread around a room and a school building. Explain that they should avoid sharing their items, having unnecessary conversations, or straying away from their class.

Don’t forget to ask teachers how they’re planning on explaining and then implementing social distancing procedures at your school. Try to model the behaviors that the teachers are asking for; kids learn best by watching their parents.

Preparing for Quarantine
The best way to prevent community spread is to keep children at home every time there is potential exposure. It might be exhausting to send everyone home whenever someone sneezes, but it’s far worse to risk getting everyone in the community sick because an asymptomatic child was sent to school.

As a parent, you should have plans in place for what you’ll do if classes are canceled. Exposed children can’t be sent to daycare; if you can’t work from home, try to find a friend or family member who can provide isolated childcare and who is not in an at-risk category.

If someone at school gets sick, insist on keeping your own child at home for at least 3-5 days, and request that faculty and exposed students undergo testing. Encourage other parents to support closures; if students stay home, the virus cannot spread.

Ultimately, school requires interaction, and interaction comes with a risk of exposure. Kids can’t be expected to carry the burden of protecting their community, so parents and faculty will have to make sure they’re not exposed to the virus. Talk to your school to find out what steps they’re taking to keep the students and their families safe.

The pandemic is showing no sign of slowing down in the United States. Even when the stay-at-home orders lift, you should still take precautions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your family.

Provide Plenty of Masks
Face coverings are the best way to reduce coronavirus exposure, especially in closed environments. Your children should be equipped with correctly-sized masks that they know how to put on and take off themselves.

Masks get wet and dirty throughout the day, especially when they are worn by children. Your kid should go to school with at least one spare mask in their backpack. Place the mask in a plastic sandwich bag to keep it clean until they’re ready to use it.

Depending on your child’s age and how well-equipped their school is, you may also want to pack hand sanitizer and a few disposable masks for students who may need them. Coordinate with your child’s teacher to make sure that all of the students will have these essential supplies.

Switch to Disposable Packaging
The environment is important, but so is the health of your kids and their classmates. Coronavirus particles can be transmitted through high-touch surfaces and anything that comes into contact with the mouth. So as good as reusable dishes might be for the planet and your budget, this pandemic is probably not the best time to use a shared classroom sink.

Set your kids up with their own disposable water bottles and lunch packaging. If you want to make their meals at home, sandwich bags are an excellent choice. Disposable plastic containers involve more waste but can be used for larger or heavier meals.

If you’re a teacher, think about the ways you can minimize unnecessary contact when serving lunches and snacks. The big rule is that if you’re sending food out, you shouldn’t be taking particles in; after you wash your hands, stay six feet away from students until the meal is fully served. You should also prepare recycling bins to minimize your classroom’s environmental impact.

Avoid Shared Transportation
Every time two families come into contact during the pandemic, there is a risk of spreading coronavirus particles between their households. This means that a multi-family carpool is actually a very bad idea until the final wave of the virus has passed. Instead, try to drop your kids off and pick them up directly from their school.

For some households, carpooling is the only viable transportation option. If this is the case, try to limit the number of families who are involved. Find one other family who is willing to share germs with yours – and be extra conscientious about your hygiene both before and after these shared rides.

In the same vein, public transportation should be avoided as much as possible. Whenever possible, walking to school is actually a good option; COVID-19 spreads much less easily in outdoor environments. Just remember that children should always be supervised by an adult.

Perform Temperature Checks
Temperature checks are a great way to tell if someone has symptoms of COVID-19. Do your community a favor by checking your family’s temperatures before every schoolday. If their temperature is above 99 degrees, it’s probably a good day to stay home.

Schools can take this a step further by checking temperatures at the door. Remember to use no-contact thermometers, and don’t have anyone stand in line unless they’re outside.

The first school semester of the pandemic isn’t going to be comfortable. Keep an eye out for symptoms, and help your kids maintain a positive attitude. If you work together, you can greatly reduce the impact of COVID-19 on your community.

At a time of year when back-to-school sales flood grocery and department stores, the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases across the country has been alarming for many parents and educators. The decision of whether to return to school is incredibly important for the health of your children and your entire community. Before you decide to head back, run through this checklist to make sure your kids will be safe.

Cases in Your Area Are Reduced
As long as there is a coronavirus outbreak in your area, sending your kids to school will not be completely safe. Asymptomatic carriers are incredibly common, and coronavirus tends to spread quickly in enclosed environments like classrooms.

Many states and cities, provide online data regarding the recent number of new cases and deaths. This data may be delayed by as much as two weeks, but it is still a good resource for checking coronavirus spread in your area.

Quarantine Orders Have Been Lifted

Don’t send your kids back to school unless the local stay-at-home orders have been lifted. Some schools may try to reopen in spite of an order from the mayor or governor. As much as you love your academic community, you should refrain from attending classes until your city has seen a significant to total reduction of cases.

Remember that the lifting of a stay-at-home order doesn’t actually mean that the area is safe. Many economies have demanded a reopening against the recommendations of health officials. As long as coronavirus is within your state, you should act as though every point of contact is a potential transmission.

Your School Has Implemented Safety Procedures
Schools that are preparing to reopen are working hard to implement safety procedures for the students and families in their care. Every school is different, but you should make sure that yours is addressing the following:

● Masks for faculty and students
● Temperature checks at school entrances
● Hand sanitizer stations in every classroom
● Reduced classroom sizes and distanced seating
● Open windows and plenty of outdoor recess time
● Virtual classes whenever possible
● Your Family Has Developed Antibodies

After catching most diseases, the human body produces antibodies that can prevent further infections. Testing has shown that coronavirus immunity may last for at least 2-3 months. If your family has already survived COVID-19, you may actually be in a safe position to return to school and interact with your community.

Don’t assume that you have immunity unless you’ve successfully taken a COVID-19 antibody test. Many clinics that offer coronavirus testing also offer antibody testing. These tests involve a blood draw, but they’re incredibly effective at determining whether you’ve already had the virus.

In summary, you should only return to school if your community has successfully weathered COVID-19. If there are still cases in your area and your family does not have antibodies, it probably isn’t safe to leave your quarantine. Talk to your school about virtual options to further your child’s education until the pandemic has passed.

A healthy immune system is a boon at all stages of your life. Whether you want to maintain your current good health or improve the way you feel in the future, these tips will make sure you’re ready to fight off anything that comes your way.

1) Get Enough Sleep

Getting an adequate amount of sleep is fundamental to maintaining a strong immune system. When you sleep, your body produces cytokines, a type of protein necessary for your immune response. Sleeping also gives your body time to repair damage and attack infections. Lack of sleep can make medical treatments and vaccines ineffective. On the other hand, getting enough sleep has been shown to greatly improve recovery times for most conditions.

Adults need around 8 hours of sleep a night. If you don’t feel well, adding an extra hour or two can often be a good idea. Try to make up for lost sleep by taking naps or sleeping in a little late on the weekends.

2) Eat a Healthy Diet

Fruits and vegetables aren’t a magical cure for any illness, but maintaining a healthy diet can help keep your immune system in peak condition. You’ll need to eat well for at least a month or two before you notice real effects, but that just means you should start as soon as possible.

A good diet is composed of fruits, vegetables, and a healthy mix of carbs, fats, and proteins. Look for unprocessed foods that are low in sodium and trans fats. Most of all, trust the way foods make you feel; if something leaves you feeling greasy or heavy, it’s probably not a healthy choice.

3) Stay Active

Exercise is an important part of good health. In addition to increasing strength and stamina, exercise can also help your body fight off infections. As with a healthy diet, exercise will have the greatest impact on your immune system if you develop a routine before you actually get sick.

If you live a relatively sedentary lifestyle, you can improve your immune system by going for a daily walk or running through a basic exercise routine. Try to get your heart rate up at least three or four times a week, and make movement a regular part of your lifestyle. Consider starting an active hobby or sport to keep you interested in exercise on the long term.

4) Reduce Stress

Getting overly stressed can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to illness. Using that same logic, reducing your stress may prevent you from catching a disease or may help you fight it off more quickly.

Stress can be caused by taking on too much work or by worrying about things that are out of your control. Make a list of the things that are stressful in your current life, and see how many of them you can attend to. After you’ve taken action to reduce your immediate workload, give yourself permission to relax about the things you cannot change.

5) Maintain Hygiene

Your habits are your immune system’s first defense. If viral particles never enter your body, they can’t turn into an infection. By keeping yourself and your environment clean, you greatly reduce your risk of catching COVID-19 or any other disease.

Start by washing your hands every time you touch something that could have been in contact with COVID-19. You should also get in the habit of taking a shower and changing clothes when you return from another environment. Soap destroys coronavirus particles, so use plenty every time you disinfect.

Next, make sure to keep your environment clean. Sanitize high-touch surfaces like counters and doorknobs at least once a day. Stay on top of chores like dishes, laundry, and vacuuming; the cleaner your house is, the healthier you and your family will be.

A strong immune system comes from a healthy lifestyle. Sleep, eat, exercise, and relax; as long as you maintain good habits, you’ll have a much easier time fighting off the next cold you catch.

If your family went into quarantine right as COVID-19 hit your area, the pandemic probably feels like it’s stretched on for an eternity. And although many students were initially excited to see the school year end so early, even the most introverted kids will eventually need to socialize for the sake of their mental health.

Unfortunately, playdates remain a risk as long as coronavirus particles are present in your community. Particles can remain in the air for several minutes and can sit on surfaces for several days. If you share space with another family, there’s a good chance you’ll spread the virus – even if you wash your hands and wear a mask.

But while your kids can’t see their friends in person, they can still stay in touch through the use of modern technology. Try a few of these ideas to help your kids play together online.

Choose an Online Game
Online gaming is the best way to help your kids maintain a social life while there is a COVID-19 outbreak in your area. Many digital spaces have been designed with children in mind; no matter what your family’s values are, you have plenty of options to choose from.

Expect to spend a small amount of money to ensure that your kids have a safe and enjoyable digital space. Games like Minecraft let you pay for Realms, private worlds to which your kids can invite their friends. Other games may come with a high initial price tag but will provide password-protected rooms or invite-only multiplayer.

Always check ratings and test gameplay yourself before you give a game to your kids. Don’t make a purchase unless you know that it will work on your child’s computer or console and that their friends will have access to multiplayer; you may need to coordinate with other parents to ensure that everyone is on a compatible platform.

Schedule a Video Call
Group video calls let you create virtual playdates. You can use Skype, Zoom, Discord, or any other software; the important thing is that your kids can see and hear each other. Set up a time for two friends to chat, or get the whole gang together for a weekly hangout.

While the call is going, consider providing digital activities for your kids to do together. They could press “play” on a movie at the same time, work on different versions of the same digital coloring page, or even play one of the many in-browser multiplayer games that exist on the modern internet. Remember to test tech before the call starts; kids get bored when setting up takes too long.

Encourage Letter Writing
The best pen pals are the ones you’ll get to see at the start of the school year. If your kids start missing their friends, encourage them to write letters or type out emails. Even a few sentences are sure to make their playmate smile. You can also help them make cards or put together care packages.

Having a pen pal opens up a variety of fun ways for your kids to connect. They can send photos, work on a stamp collection, or even complete a drawing together in multiple stages. Encourage your child to brainstorm ideas, and coordinate with the other set of parents to make their dreams a reality.

Be Responsible if Contact Happens
It’s summer, and your kids might have a hard time keeping social distancing in place. What happens when another kid goes for a bike ride at the same time? If contact with another family does occur, your best course as a parent is to remain calm and reduce the risk of viral exposure.

Make sure your kids don’t leave the house without a mask or another face covering. Coach them on staying away from high-contact surfaces like park benches or playgrounds. Younger children shouldn’t leave the house without adult supervision; it’s the best way to make sure they are not approached by other families. And when you return home, remember to change clothes and take a shower to remove any viral particles you picked up while outside.

There’s nothing easy about being a kid in 2020. Since they can’t see their friends, make sure to spend as much time with them as possible. Family movie and game nights will provide one type of contact, and virtual playdates will fill in the gaps. Remember, sleepovers will be a thing again in the future; but for right now, everyone needs to stay at home.

Summer is here, but this summer will probably be unlike any you have ever experienced. Try these tips to maintain your health and physical fitness while you’re cooped up inside.

Watch Workout Videos
Do you love yoga, martial arts, aerobics, or dancing? No matter what your exercise style is, there is a digital workout instructor waiting for you. Look for an online program that catches your interest and inspires you to start an indoor routine.

YouTube is one of the best places to find workout videos for nearly any interest. You should also check the website for your local gym; they may be offering digital classes taught by your favorite instructors. Finally, do a quick google search for your favorite type of exercise; the internet is full of both free and
paid options.

Make Time to Move Around
As many couch potatoes and gamers have learned, going completely sedentary will have a slow but steady impact on your health. You can prevent this downward slide by adopting a lifestyle that includes movement and general passive activity.

Start by getting up for a short break after every 1 to 2 hours that you spend sitting down. Stand up, stretch, and get a drink of water. Pay attention to the way your body starts to feel when you’ve been sitting too long; if you feel heavy or lethargic, it’s time to move around.

You can also incorporate movement into the way you interact with your environment. Dance to music, play with your pets, and pace when you’re on a solo phone call. Even 20 minutes of movement during the day will help you stay fit while quarantine progresses.

Improve Your Housekeeping Skills
When approached with a balanced attitude, keeping a clean house is great for your physical and mental health. The physical activity of cleaning gives you an excuse to get out of your chair and move around. A freshly-cleaned environment is also the perfect space to dance, practice yoga, or increase the number of push-ups that you can do in one session.

Keeping your house clean will also help you maintain a sanitary and virus-free environment to stay quarantined in. Prioritize tasks like doing laundry, vacuuming, and disinfecting surfaces. Open the windows when there is low activity outside; fresh air is needed to keep your atmosphere from feeling stale.

Get Plenty of Rest
Sleep is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. Getting enough rest will bolster your immune system, improve your mental state, and give you the energy you need to exercise throughout the day.

The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep a night. However, if you’ve been recently stressed, sick, or sleep-deprived, you may need as much as 10 hours of sleep to feel truly rested. Establish a reasonable bedtime and wake-up time, and try to stick to your schedule throughout the summer. Your body will thank you when it’s finally time to go back to work.

Your health is influenced by the decisions you make throughout the day. Treat exercise, diet, hygiene, and rest as important parts of your life; then, discover how to express these priorities in a way that works for you.

Stress is a natural reaction to situations that require a response. You feel this way because you desperately want to help in any way you can. And although this global situation is not one that can be solved by a single person, there are things you can do to help keep your family healthy and prevent additional spread in your community.

Protect Yourself and Others
Now that the first wave of COVID-19 has passed and the second is on the horizon, the world knows a lot more about fighting the virus. Run through this checklist to make sure you are reducing transmission as much as possible.

• Wear a face cover. COVID-19 is an airborne virus, so cover up before you go outside. Masks, scarves, and bandanas are all viable options; just make sure your nose and mouth are covered with as few gaps as possible. Cotton, silk, and flannel offer some of the best filtration.
• Wash your hands. Soap destroys viral particles. Stop transmission by washing your hands with soap after you touch anything that you think could be contaminated. You should also clean surfaces and items with either soap or another disinfectant.
• Order delivery. Grocery stores and retailers are working hard to move goods with as few points of transmission as possible. If you have the option, get your items delivered to avoid complicating the system further.
• Shower and change clothes. If you must leave the house, assume that you are contaminated when you re-enter your environment. Take a shower, do a load of laundry, and leave any items that cannot be washed in a “contamination zone” for 2 to 5 days.
• Avoid closed areas. COVID-19 is an airborne particle. Just as steam gathers in the bathroom, an enclosed environment can quickly become saturated by the virus. Do business outside whenever possible, and disinfect after entering a brick-and-mortar establishment.

Maintain Your Health
Despite your best efforts, there is a good chance that you will come into contact with COVID-19 at some point over the next few months. You can take proactive steps now to bolster your immune system and shorten your recovery time as much as possible. Watching your health will also lower your stress level; you might be surprised at how much of your anxiety is sourced in physical discomfort.

Start by improving your diet and your sleep schedule. Eat wholesome food that contains protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Get a full 8 hours of sleep a night, and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Stay away from anything that might directly compromise your immune system. Avoid alcohol in particular; you should also be wary of any natural remedies that are not backed by modern science.

Should you notice actual symptoms of COVID, make sure to stay calm and rest. Hot baths and showers will help relieve the symptoms of pneumonia. Wash your water cup with soap between uses to keep your viral load down and prevent spreading particles around the house. Seek medical attention if you have difficulty breathing or experience heart problems.

Find Community Online
One of the biggest causes of COVID-related stress is the complete disconnection from your previous social environment. Visits and gatherings are not safe, but that doesn’t mean you need to be starved for human interaction.

The internet has become a social haven for anyone who can go online. Stay in touch with your own social circle through social media, group chat, video games, and email threads. You should also look for digital public spaces dedicated to your hobbies, interests, and profession.

As you reach out digitally, take this opportunity to notice the impact that other people have on your mental state. Avoid online interactions and spaces that make you feel anxious, angry, or unsafe. Prioritize contact with friends and family members who offer you healthy and loving interactions. By building a strong social network, you will help reduce the stress of everyone in your support circle.

Stress management is a combination of taking action and maintaining a balanced mental state. This advice is meant to help you feel empowered and capable of protecting yourself when the second wave hits your community. Depending on your level of anxiety, you may also want to supplement these tips with common stress-reducing tactics like mediation and exercise. Remember that although we all cope in different ways, everyone is in this together. Stay strong; we will get through this.