daily QUARANTINE checklist

What a strange time this is for us. So much uncertainty and stress. So much fear! We face new challenges every day that we've never faced before. 

Now is the time to take care of ourselves and our loved ones; mind, body, and soul!

Here are a few ideas on how you can do just that! The more you do these 8 things and do them consistently, the better you will feel!

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A lot of us are finding ourselves under quarantine due to the coronavirus. Along with that comes job losses or layoffs, homeschooling, social distancing, worries, and fears. We may be lacking in essential household goods or foods that we've never had a problem getting before. Every time we do leave the house for a run to the store, we feel like we're taking our lives in our hands.

This social distancing is taking away the things we love like our gym time, church, groups, dinners out and many, many other gatherings.  It's lonely and frustrating. 

This is all the perfect recipe for depression to grow. I want to help you combat that! We have choices to make every day. Choices that will fill us up or crush us with fear. You DO have control over some things in your life and I wanted to give you a reminder of that. 

I know for me, there are a few things I have to be sure to do each day to keep my mind right and my stress level down. We know how detrimental stress is to our bodies. Chronic stress sets off a cascade of hormones that will lead to sickness and depression and poor quality of life. It lowers our immune system!! No matter the circumstances, we CAN do some things for ourselves to combat this.

    The following are questions you can ask yourself each day to be sure you're filling yourself up, protecting your health and giving to others. 

1. How can I fill my soul? For me, this is of utmost importance. Prayer is how I start and end my day. My prayers are filled with gratitude for what God has done and for what I'm believing He will do. It centers me and keeps me from allowing the stresses of life to take over my day. I also need to get into the word of God each day to remind myself of the truths of life. Truths like: I am protected. I am loved. I am healthy and whole. I do this through devotionals and bible studies. The You Version bible app is a perfect way to get started. If you are not a believer, start your day by being thankful for anything you can think of. Your bed, a good night's sleep, the sun rising, your family, your health. Once you start, you'll find many things to be grateful for. Starting your day with worry and fear is a sure way to ruin your day before it even starts!​
2. How can I move my body? Moving your body every day is vital to not only your physical health but also your mental health. ​In clinical studies, regular aerobic exercise is as effective as antidepressants in reducing symptoms of mild to moderate depression. It is such a great stress reducer. You have so many choices here and it's best to change it up. Doing the same exercise every day will lead to maintenance. If you want to change your body, mix it up between high intensity cardio, Pilates, weight training, yoga, etc. You can find free workouts on YouTube or, if you're willing to pay, your choices are endless!    Here are my favorites from YouTube:  Body Project  Gymra  Hasfit
3. How can I quiet my mind? Do you ever feel like your thoughts are like a hamster on a wheel? Just endlessly thinking the same thought over and over again? It's enough to drive you crazy! How to combat this? Meditation! I know, I know! You've tried it before and you just can't do it. I call B.S.! Truly, there's nothing special you have to do. You can simply sit in a quiet room, close your eyes and focus on your breath for 5 minutes. You won't believe the impact it will have, not only on your mental health and stress level but also on your overall life. You will be more mindful and aware, more in the present moment. You can also find guided meditations on YouTube. My favorite is The Mindful Movement.  There are also apps like Calm and Insight Timer. TRY IT! Then try it again!!
4. How can I fill my mind? Ugh! Why do I have to learn something? Can I just scroll through social media all day? NO! I mean, you can but when this is all over do you want to be a Facebook or news expert? No, I think not. Now is the time to read that book you've left on your shelf (virtual or physical) for far too long. How about an online course? Did you know that there are free college courses you can take? I'm taking this one, The Science of Being Well from Yale! Maybe you could learn an instrument, a new language or a new craft. Anything that would bring you joy and take your mind off the stress of the world.
5. How can I increase my health? It's no secret that most of the people who are not recovering from coronavirus have underlying conditions such as heart disease, asthma, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions. Now more than ever, we need to do what we can to be as healthy as possible. Of course, that means cleaning up your diet. First to go is sugar. It lowers your immune system by 40% for 4-5 hours after ingesting it. What can you add today that will contribute to your health? Some more veggies? Fruit? Most importantly, eat fresh, whole foods. Now is a great time to start cooking and trying new recipes. Your diet has a huge impact on your health. Please reach out to me if you need help in this area.
6. How can I show love to others? Social distancing has been hard for many of us. We're used to showing love through hugs and kisses. We shake hands and high five. Now we find ourselves having to stay 6 feet away from each other.  It's sad but necessary. For now, we'll have to resort to Face Time and Zoom calls. You can check in with elderly family members and neighbors and offer to do a grocery run. I know with my kids having to homeschool right now, they're feeling lots of extra stress. They actually want to be at school! I'm showing them some love by playing games with them and making their favorite food...and letting them have a little extra time for video games. Lastly, pray for the people you love, the healthcare workers, our leaders, and the world! Just do the best you can for now. When this is all over, we'll hug like crazy!
7. How can I appreciate the beauty around me? I don't care how bad your day is, if you see a gorgeous, pink sunset, you're going to smile! There is just something special about being out in nature that makes you feel better! Every day, especially these days, I take some time  to appreciate the great outdoors. It's spring right now so when I'm walking the dog I have so many beautiful, blooming flowers and trees to appreciate. Take a little extra time to go for a hike in the woods, find a lake or beach to sit and enjoy the view. Maybe there is a garden you can visit. At the very least, buy some flowers to put in your home.
8. ​How can I show my gratitude? You know what they say! "Being grateful for what you have brings more things to be grateful for." Having an attitude of gratitude is truly life-changing. You may be thinking, "What do I have to be grateful for during a time like this?" I promise you, if you have breath in your lungs, you can find something to be grateful for. We're coming full circle with this. We started our day with gratitude. We're going to end our day that way, too. Start keeping a list. Each night, write down 5 things you're grateful for. If you have more, write more. Throughout the day, you'll notice things that you can write down that night. The more you look for things to appreciate, the more you'll find!  

I hope you found some value in these simple steps you can take on a daily basis to help counteract all the stress you're feeling. If you've never done any of these things or if they feel overwhelming, just try one. When that feels good add another. No extra stress here! 

I'm praying for a quick end to all of this but while we have this time, we can use it to better ourselves.

​Be safe and be well! My love to you all!