When we take care of ourselves, we are better able to support those around us. Now more than ever, it’s important to identify activities that help manage stress and boost resilience. Consider these tips to support your wellbeing while maintaining a safe distance from others.

Physical Activities: Exercise, or any form of body movement, can help to improve our moods and even reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Cognitive Activities: Chess, Sudoku, puzzles, and even making up our own new games can help stimulate our minds and improve our abilities to think flexibly and clearly.

Reflection Activities: Reflection and growth activities, such as journaling and tele-therapy, can improve our capacities for self-reflection, or awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This greater awareness can lead to better sleep and improved ability to regulate our emotions.

Meditative Activities: Connecting to our spirituality can make it easier to cope with stress. When in deep prayer or meditation, our fight, flight, or freeze response can reduce, lowering our blood pressure and allowing us to relax and think clearly. However, this isn’t always the case, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel more stressed during or after these activities.

Social Activities: Socializing can be a strong antidote to loneliness, either through the phone, emails, or even written letters. These activities can help improve our wellbeing by enhancing our feelings of connection to others.

1. Mayo Clinic and HelpGuide
2. Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School
3. University of Rochester Medical School
4. U.S. National Library of Medicine and Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School
5. Mayo Clinic