Page 16 - LBMAO - May-Jun 2020 REPORTER - web optimized

5 ways to reduce stress & boost immune

system while social distancing

By Wendy King

As COVID-19 continues to spread and we make lifestyle adjustments in response, the challenge is to maintain your
mental and physical health in light of mounting stress. These strategies will help.

s social distancing becomes our also severely depress our immune Their perspective is different than
Anew “norm” over at least the next systems.1 Combat this fear by acting adults’, and they will have difficulty
several weeks, the pressures may be on facts, not misinformation. Look at processing the facts. Children also
overwhelming. There are challenges the statistics and the real numbers notice our emotional state, so try to
finding childcare and keeping necessities of infections being reported by the stay calm and provide facts to help
stocked, never mind keeping yourself Centers for Disease Control and local/ them understand the situation and
safe at work and out in the world. And national officials. You can tackle fear how everyone can get through this
how much disinfectant is enough, by facing it head-on with facts and together.
anyway? We all need to think about smart precautions like hand washing,
practical coping strategies while dealing disinfecting surfaces, and social 3. Get some physical exercise. Exercise
with the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are distancing. your body to help keep your mind in
five to employ today: check. In fact, aerobic exercise is as
2. Be smart about social and TV time. important for your head as it is for
1. Use facts and precautions to manage Social media platforms can cause your heart. It has a unique capacity
your fear. The unknown can be scary incredible anxiety as rumours and to exhilarate and relax, provide
and can overwhelm us. Fear can misinformation spread on them. stimulation and calm, as well as
inflate negative thoughts, which Limit time on social media, and counter depression and dissipate
leads to unhealthy stress. Ongoing don’t instigate hysteria by reposting stress.2 So, take a walk, a run, or even
stress releases hormones that unvetted information. Limit your tune in to one of the thousands of free
get us ready for emergencies, but children’s exposure to television news. online yoga, meditation or workout

16 LBMAO Reporter - May-June 2020 www.lbmao.on.ca