Staying Well While Social Distancing

It’s a very uncertain and unsettling time for everyone, and it’s hard to believe that the entire world is facing some level of isolation right now. While we all distance ourselves from society it is more important then ever that we look after our mental and physical well-being. Below we have listed some recommendations for staying well during social distancing.

Keep Moving – Just because our gyms are closed, doesn’t mean we have to stop all physical activity. There are plenty of options for exercising at home and among many other benefits, exercising helps boost our immune systems and our mood. Several instructors are offering live classes on social media and two of our favourites for strength and cardio workouts which require little to no equipment are @erinphelanfit and @movement108. In those countries where we are still permitted to go outside, running and walking are also a great option. If you have been wanting to try yoga or practice it more often, now is the perfect time. There is a wide variety of free classes on YouTube and there are also several subscription based offerings online. Our personal favourites are YYoga at home and Alo Moves.

Create a Daily Schedule – It is important to maintain some structure to your day. Try to wake up at the same time every day and shower and get dressed as usual (although it’s perfectly acceptable to wear track pants every day). Set up an office area in your house for working and try to keep regular hours as much as possible. Schedule in breaks for workouts, FaceTime chats with friends and colleagues etc and resist the temptation to watch / read COVID-19 updates or scroll social media all day.

Differentiate the Weekends – At some point every day will start to feel the same and we won’t know whether it’s a weekday or a weekend. Plan some activities to look forward to on the weekend, whether it is saving the wine for weekend nights (if this is possible!), scheduling movie nights (using Netflix Party to watch with friends) or going for a long run or walk to take an extended break from the confines of your house.

Set Goals – None of us know how long this is going to last, but we all want to come out of it knowing that we did something productive with our time. For the first time in our lives none of us have the excuse that we don’t have enough time. Set goals for yourself, and do the things you’ve always wanted to do – learn to play an instrument, learn a language, write a book, start journaling, start a business, start meditating….the options are endless.

Practice Gratefulness – It’s important to remind ourselves of everything we are grateful for during this time. Start a practice of writing down 5-10 things you are grateful for on a daily basis. During the course of our normal busy lives, we all wish for more time with family, less time working and commuting, more time to relax etc. As long as we remain healthy and we have enough food (and toilet paper) we have plenty to be grateful for. It’s easy to be negative right now but try to flip it to see the positive.

Remember that we are all in this together, check in on family, friends and neighbours regularly, stay safe and healthy and STAY HOME.

Lisa Gordon
Co-Founder, Movement Travel