No matter where you find yourself in the world at this very moment, at least some of your daily habits have been impacted by the dreaded COVID-19 virus. Now, I’m not here to discuss anything political, however, I thought it would be a good time to share some tips and tricks on how to remain sane as the Omicron variant sweeps through. Here are our tips for how to stay optimistic through covid!
1. Stay Active
BootcampDepending on where you live, it is very likely that gyms and fitness centres have unfortunately been forced to shut down. And, if you’re like me, you’ve probably spent the better part of your adult life associating physical fitness with a gym membership. I seriously congratulate you if you’ve been able to maintain home workouts in this fourth wave of the pandemic! However, it’s also possible that the motivation for those workouts just isn’t at the same level as that high-intensity Bootcamp you did at your local fitness studio.
My number one tip when it comes to staying active is to find an activity you enjoy! Let’s broaden our definition of physical fitness — for example, going for a long walk in the woods constitutes physical activity. Playing fetch with your dog in the backyard can also definitely be a workout! Taking thirty minutes in the morning to stretch your limbs before going to sit in front of the computer for the day; great for the joints and the mind! Last but not least, dancing! Turn up the music, grab your quarantine buddy and dance away.
Bottom line — there are dozens of activities we can do to keep our bodies moving, we just need to get creative. Who knows? You may not even need the gym when they reopen!
2. Maintain Human Connection
We all have an innate need for human connection, no doubt about it. Now, how do we maintain our friendships and relationships in the heat of a pandemic? I know we’re all fed up with video calling, and as tiring as it may be that we have to resort back to these methods of communication, it’s super important that we keep doing it. We tend to isolate ourselves when we start feeling down, and then it’s just a downward spiral. Trust me, we’ve all been there. What can you do?
Here are some ideas to keep your relationships with your loved ones strong and healthy. Missing girls’ night? Schedule a weekly FaceTime date with your best friend! Pour a glass of wine and catch up about how the week has been. Sunday night family dinners? Turn them into your own cooking show over video call. Want to see a loved one in person? Go for a socially-distanced walk and stop by your favourite local café for a treat. I know it’s not the same, but maintaining some sense of normalcy is absolutely key for our mental health!
3. Plan Future Travels
Let’s be honest, if you’re reading this, it’s because you enjoy travelling. I don’t know about you, but nothing gets me more excited than planning a trip! Okay fine, going on vacation is probably more exciting than planning it, but it could be almost just as fun.
When you’re feeling a bit down, dreaming of your next destination can be an instant mood-booster! We all have a list of places we’d like to visit. Also, considering the travel world hasn’t exactly been booming these last two years, we probably have some extra cash saved up. Now is the time to plan that trip you’ve always wanted to take, but maybe held back because it was too expensive or too “out there”. Dream big — plan that lavish Greek island vacation or that Icelandic cruise from your bucket list. Whether you’re travelling solo, with a partner or with family, everyone can get excited about their next flight!
By: Sacha Vincent-Toskin
