Easing Anxiety During COVID-19 Outbreak

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt

We are all experiencing anxiety, fear and are a bit overwhelmed during this uncertain time. It is important to remember the things you CAN control.

Notice your breath. Are you taking quick shallow breaths? If so, try to take slow deep breaths. Deep breathing may be the simplest thing you can do to calm your nervous system. On an inhale, notice your ribs, chest and belly rise. On the exhale, notice the belly, ribs and chest fall. You can even count the length of your inhales and exhales. See if you can make your exhales a little longer than your inhales. SLOW it down.

Be sure to eat well-balanced meals full of immune boosting colors. Eat the rainbow! Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Each color contains vital antioxidants and phytochemicals your immune system needs to fight off infections. Try to include all the GBOMBS foods every day! (Greens, Broccoli, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries & Seeds) Garlic is a known anti-viral so be sure to get it in if you enjoy it! Oregano, basil, sage, peppermint, rosemary and ginger are thought to be beneficial as well.

Get enough sleep. SLEEP IS SACRED. The recommendation is 7-8 hours each and every night. Be sure to limit screen time at least 2-3 hours before bed. Take a bath, read a book, do some light stretching to create a calming routine.

Exercise daily for 20-30 minutes. Take a walk outside. Go for a bike ride. Try a YouTube or Facebook Live class. Dance to your favorite song. Do some yoga.

Limit social media and screen time. Stay abreast of current updates, but obsessing over every post or article, will only cause more anxiousness.

Limit alcohol and caffeine, which can aggravate anxiety and even cause panic attacks.

Be grateful for quality family time. Rushing from event to event, being over-scheduled and always feeling spread too thin is not healthy for anyone. Now is the perfect time to set future boundaries and personal goals. Allow this pause to reflect on where you are in life and where you want to be. You have an opportunity for a personal reset, don’t waste it!

YOU are our heroes! GO save the world!