With COVID-19, social distancing is an important way for us to inhibit the spread of the virus and love our neighbors. However, with the great and many changes that come with adhering to social distancing, there are new challenges.
As the Director of Care for St. Pete Underground, I wanted to share 10 recommendations we can do to keep our body, soul, and spirit well during these uncertain times.
1 Spiritual Practice
take time to fellowship with God through prayer, scripture study, worship, art, gratitude, journaling, meditation, etc
2 Communicate
Share your specific needs with the people you live with, microchurch, or community
3 Limit screen time
This will lower anxiety and brain fog. Avoid obsessively checking the news, stocks, and social media
4 Be intentional
A create a weekly schedule and daily agenda to help combat idleness and prevent the days from running together
5 Go outside
Social distancing calls for 6 feet of distance between people. Enjoy this beautiful Florida weather!
6 Exercise and eat nourishing foods
These will manage stress and even boost your mood
7 Rest
Maintain good sleep hygiene by going to bed and waking up around the same time everyday.
8 Tidy up
With more time spent inside, try to keep your home clean. Take 10 minutes declutter at the end of each day.
9 Stay in touch
Voice and video call with friends and loved ones to stay connected. Also, set healthy boundaries with people who are triggering. With those relationships, use your favorite grounding strategy before and after speaking with them. Remember you are not responsible for managing their anxiety! Communicate your feelings and needs to those people and limit contact if necessary.
10 Just Be
Who you are is enough! You don’t have to be as productive working from home as you are when in office. You don’t have to get fit, sleep well, learn a language, and finish those projects around the house. We are in the midst of a global pandemic. Allow the grace and love of Christ to give you rest.
I hope these things are helpful as you cope with quarantine. If you need more support, please reach out to me at Jasmine@stpeteunderground.com