The pandemic upended most Americans’ lives, with some left with an uncertain future following the closure of their businesses or places of work.
After a year of uncertainty, people coped and moved forward, especially for those who already received the vaccine.
But since the pandemic is still ongoing, it is still important for people to continue to take care of themselves until everything is finally back to normal.
Here are some things people can do to continue taking care of their physical and mental health until the country finally achieves herd immunity.
Acknowledge the Crisis
Acknowledging the health crisis is one way for people to remind themselves to continue following health protocols to avoid getting infected by the virus.
Even as they continue to wear masks and observe social distancing, it does not mean that they cannot take care of themselves.
They can pamper themselves by taking a relaxing bath, reading a good book, or preparing their favorite dish.
They can even use an organic shampoo for dandruff to gradually get rid of that annoying scalp condition they’ve been dealing with for a long time already.
With this, they can confidently go out to the supermarket or grocery when they buy necessities without constantly checking their shoulder for flaking.
People can even interact with their neighbors while following the proper social distancing protocols.
After two weeks of receiving the second dose of the vaccine, they can do more outdoor activities and travel domestically.
But they should regularly check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for any changes in their guidelines.
Eat Nutritious Food
Staying home is not easy on a person’s mental health, and sometimes they end up eating unhealthy food to cope with their situation.
In a pandemic of global proportions, nutrition is among the first things that people overlook due to their anxiety.
While food is important to fuel the body, people should consciously eat healthy food.
Stress can cause people to grab a bag of chips and finish it in no time. But people should do their best to eat nutritious meals that are rich in fruits and vegetables.
If they feel the urge to snack on junk food, they can acknowledge these cravings and ask themselves if they really need to eat something or if it’s just stress that’s creeping in.
To avoid the temptation, they can stock their refrigerator with healthy snacks made of fruits and vegetables. They can also follow a regular meal schedule to avoid the temptation of stress snacking.
Exercise
The shelter-in-place orders compelled people to forego their regular activities when the pandemic initially happened. They may have lost touch with their trainers, especially after they haven’t gone to the gym for over a year.
While gyms and fitness centers have already reopened, people may still be wary of working out in these enclosed spaces. But it does not mean they cannot exercise.
They can still sweat it out in the comfort of their homes by performing simple yet effective workout routines, such as push-ups, sit-ups, and crunches. They can also use water bottles or canned goods as weights.
People can also go out for a jog around the neighborhood.
But if they do this, they should still follow health guidelines of wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing with people who are not a part of their household.
Exercising is important to ensure they remain physically healthy during the pandemic.
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Get Enough Rest
Aside from food and exercise, people should also get enough rest to boost their immune system.
When the pandemic disrupted people’s lives around the country, they ended up with irregular sleeping patterns. Some even did not get enough rest due to the anxiety they felt about the whole situation.
But rest is something that they needed to remove the uneasiness they were feeling during the pandemic. Due to this, people should make sure they get enough rest every day.
To facilitate this, people should try to follow a regular sleeping schedule.
They can also incorporate a relaxation technique into their bedtime routine. When people feel relaxed, they normally start to drift off to sleep.
An exercise routine can also help people sleep at night since physical activity can help them ease anxiety and stress.
People can also avoid caffeine late in the afternoon since it can keep them awake even though it’s time for them to hit the sack.
Even though the end of the pandemic is drawing near, it is still important for people to keep themselves healthy and strong until everything goes back to normal.