Self-Isolation and Self-Care: Taking Care of Yourself During COVID-19

Due to the coronavirus, COVID-19, our current lives can be strange, confusing and anxiety-inducing. A wide variety of solutions and options abound to practice self-care, alleviating some of the drawbacks of quarantine restrictions.

At the end of the day, being cooped inside doesn’t mean your mental health has to suffer. Consider the following suggestions to take care of yourself while you’re social distancing.

Meditate

If you are feeling overwhelmed by anxious thoughts, try practicing mindfulness or meditation. Visit the Monarch Center for Wellness website for free access to mindfulness courses featuring ways to cope with stress, anxiety and depression.

The Monarch Center for Wellness website is updated frequently with webinar information featuring Mindfulness Instructor Jude Johnson, MA, LMFT.

Get Moving

Boost your mood and get some extra endorphins by trying an in-home workout program. Many options are available to stream classes from places like SweatNET or on YouTube. With the arrival of warmer weather, get those walking or hiking shoes out and take advantage of the fresh air, of course, practicing safe social distancing guidelines. Check with your local city or state parks before visiting for closing and operating hour updates.

Nourish Your Body

Make sure you are consuming the proper nutrients by eating healthy, well-balanced meals. Don’t forget to follow the daily guidelines for getting enough water.

Learn Something New

Embrace the hobbies you have been interested in trying or research something you’ve always wanted to do. Now is the perfect time. Take an online class from SkillPop or Skillshare, and learn how to design, knit, cook and much more.

Read

We all have those top ten 10 lists of books we have been itching to read or that have been on our wish list. As we have more time at home, now is a great time to dust off books or dive into reading apps to catch up. Check out these recommendations of current bestsellers.

Cook or Bake

If you are interested in spending time in the kitchen, cooking or baking family favorite recipes is a great way to de-stress and feed friends and family tasty treats or meals. A vast array of cooking courses are available online, like this one from The Culinary Cook.

Enjoy Your Movie Favorites

Have a (virtual) movie night with friends using Google Chromes’ Netflix Party extension. This app allows you to watch the movie and chat with friends from anywhere.

If you are in need of support or have mental health questions, Monarch customer service representatives can be reached at (866) 272-7826. Continue to monitor our website for important details about updates or closures.

Posted on: Thursday March 26, 2020