Five Strategies to Manage Stress and Anxiety During COVID-19

Many of us are feeling uncertainty about what they future will look like given the current interruption of our lives due to COVID-19 and this is causing extreme stress and anxiety.

While we may feel the impact of social isolation, there are ways we can manage.

canfitpro has your health and wellness top of mind.

Below are 5 top strategies to help you better manage stress and anxiety during this unprecedented time.

STRESS RESILIENCY CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT

canfitpro’s online Stress Resiliency Course guides you through self-care strategies to ease stress and anxiety.

Included in this course are hours of guided meditations and activity recordings, journaling prompts, and practical relaxation tools. Upon completion of this course, 4.0 CECs will be earned for PTS, FIS, and HWL certifications.

For a limited time get 50% off (regularly up to $129 plus tax). Register through your canfitpro Member Portal using code “wellness” to receive your discount.

MEDITATE

If you are feeling anxious and are looking for a self-care strategy to help you stay present and feel more grounded and focused, give mediation a go.

Whether it is a guided meditation, connecting with your breath or joining a online community; meditating is a great way to cultivate some calm and resilience through these challenging and changing times.

Find out more about guided meditations by our Stress Resiliency Course author Laura Warf.

ESTABLISH A REGULAR ROUTINE

Your regular routine is interrupted, but it’s important to accept that some aspects of this could be the “new normal” and therefore, to create a new routine around it.

Make a weekly schedule for yourself (and your loved ones), including on weekends. This can include setting an alarm for waking up, as well as having meals and going to sleep at the same time every day.

Make sure to fill your day with pleasant activities that make bring you joy, keep you active and help elevate your mood and avoid the overconsumption of COVID-19 related news. Be sure to consume positivity as this will help counterbalance the negativity. Involve everyone in your household in the creation of the routine, as this will give them a better sense of security and feeling of optimism.

Remember to maintain your sleep routines. To get the best sleep, turn off all technology an hour before bed.

Chris Hadfield offers additional tips for establishing routines in self-isolation.

VIRTUAL WORK OUTS

As well all know, working out has many benefits for your physical and mental health. With so much of the world in lockdown, anxiety is a natural response. Regular exercise will go a long way towards helping. Les Mills offers ways to Combat Stress and Anxiety with Exercise.

You can also hire a virtual Personal Trainer or look at some of these offerings by our friends and partners:

• Les Mills on Demand– over 800 workouts including favourites like BODYFLOW AND BODYPUMP. Click here to access a Free Trial.
• Oxygen Yoga & Fitness – follow on Instagram and Facebook for breathwork and poses that reduce stress
• Jay Raymundo– follow our PRO TRAINER from Airdrie, AB on Instagram for awesome home-based circuit workouts
• Vitality Practice Online Fitness– body positive exercises created by canfitpro’s own team member and PRO TRAINER, Beth Yarzab. Click here and use code “SOCIALDISTANCE” for one month of free access.

RELATED: Exercise for Anxiety and Depression

ASK FOR AND OFFER SUPPORT AND (VIRTUAL) CONNECTION

Given that most of what is happening is out of our control, we may feel helpless or overwhelmed.

Staying at home can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. Phone a friend or loved one or initiate a video call using technology like What’s App or Messenger. You can also plan virtual group calls with a group of friends or family members.

If you’re feeling stressed, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone for help. If someone opens up to you, remember that you don’t necessarily have to provide them with a solution or advice. Oftentimes, people just want someone to listen to them.

Mike Lipkin, one of North America’s preeminent coaches and motivators shares 10 ways to master the crisis while you reassure the people around you. Check out his top ways to Get Into Your Comfort Zone during these challenging times.

We may be experiencing unprecedented times, but it doesn’t mean we have to face them alone.