How to Prioritize Wellness While Social Distancing

Everyday our organization works to exemplify our commitment to protecting the health and well-being of people, communities, and nature. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, we have required all of our staff to work from home in order to support the medical workers, autoimmune compromised individuals, and other affected communities.

While we continue to contribute to the shared goal, let's not forget to support ourselves by making daily wellness choices toward staying healthy: spiritually, physically, emotionally, and socially.

Spiritual

• Do yoga in the comfort of your home. There are many free online classes available and the benefits reach beyond the mat.
• Start a journal or sign up online for a gratitude challenge. The Thnx4 project found that participants who kept an online gratitude journal for two weeks reported better physical health, including fewer headaches.
• Set aside time before and/or after your work day to meditate. It is a simple way to reduce stress and stay grounded. You can download a free app like Insight Timer Meditation. The app features guided walking and stationary meditations, music, and talks posted by experts.

Physical

• Create a dedicated workspace at home, even if it’s just a desk in your living room or a corner of the kitchen table.
• Get comfortable. Spend five minutes making your desk chair ergonomic with items you have around the house.
• Set a timer to get up every hour to stretch, and go outside—could be a walk around the block—at least once a day.
• Hook up your bicycle to a trainer to be able to cycle at home.

Emotional

• Set a schedule and stick to it. Your mental health and the quality of your work will benefit. The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method where you divide your time into 25-minute sessions of deep focus with breaks in-between.
• Start a garden. Don’t let living in a city hold you back; there are many ways to garden and grow edible plants indoors. A great place to start is growing vegetables from your table scraps—produce like avocados, celery, or onions can be easily regrown.
• Tune into the Monterrey Bay Aquarium's ten live web cams. Check in on the sea otters’ antics or relax to the drifting of jellyfish.

Social

• Be proactive about scheduling time to touch base with your family, colleagues, and friends. Zoom offers a free remote conferencing service that combines video conferencing, online meetings, chat, and mobile collaboration.
• Download an app like House Party or Jackbox Games which enables you to video chat with your friends and play games, including heads up, trivia, and just draw. 
• Utilize a productivity app that blocks out internet distractions.The Checky app tracks time spent on your smartphone, and the Focus and Freedom apps block chosen websites for a designated amount of time to help you stay focused.

Keep updated on all COVID-19 recommended precautions. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention by first calling in advance. You should restrict activities outside your home—including public areas, ride-sharing, and public transportation—except for when you need to receive medical care or for other necessary reasons. Collective action is crucial; we rely on you doing your part to protect loved ones and vulnerable communities.