Take Care!

Unwind

Take time each day to relax and unwind. Try to engage in activities and hobbies you enjoy every day. Engaging in enjoyable activities offers an important outlet for pleasure, fun, and creativity.

Set reasonable goals 

Mastering something, even something very simple, can help us to feel more in control of our day-to-day lives. Find something that you can do from start to finish every day, no matter how small the task. Decide what must get done today and what can wait. Priorities may shift to reflect changes in schedules and routines and that is okay. Recognize what you have accomplished at the end of the day.

You can set some goals for yourself in a journal or by using an app like Strides.

Take care of your body

Eat well, exercise each day, get plenty of rest, and be careful not to overuse alcohol and drugs. Remember that exercise can be any kind of physical activity (walking, gardening, yard work) as long as it gets your body moving. Follow your treatment plan, if you have one, and take medications as prescribed. When we treat our body well, we are better able to manage stressful life events.

You can get exercise right now using the 7 Minute Workout (gets you moving no matter where you are).

Practice gratitude

Finding a way to support someone else with a telephone call, note, or needed supplies, supports your own well-being and the well-being of your community. End the day by journaling or talking about what you are grateful for. You can also try using an on-line gratitude journal.

Get the facts!

Sharing the facts about COVID-19 and understanding the actual risk to yourself and people you care about can make an outbreak less stressful. Vermont’s Department of Health is providing daily updates about COVID-19 in our state and how to keep you and your family safe. Get information from the source! You will feel better knowing the information you have is current and correct.

Be sure to take breaks from the news! Overexposure to the news, even if the information is correct, can make your stress worse.

Set aside periods of time each day during which you close your news and social media feeds and turn off the TV. Give yourself some time and space to think about something other than COVID-19. Set limits on how much time you spend talking about the pandemic. Be sure to explore the other things you enjoy.

Create your own Daily Stress Management Plan and commit to improving your overall health.