Over the past few weeks, concerns about the spread of the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, have turned our daily lives upside down. Since the majority of us are now working from home, we asked Aduro to launch a special challenge for us to stay motivated during this unprecedented time.
Be Well, Stay Well: COVID-19
100 Points
To complete this, do at least one of the activities mentioned below.
Stress Well
Reduced access to food and daily essentials is stressful. With gyms closed, sporting activities shut down, and bars and restaurants off-limits, we're also being cut off from our friends and loved ones. But you have more control over your stressors than you think. A few ideas:
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Limit the news. Watching the news all day can increase anxiety levels. Tune in to the morning or evening news and turn to reliable sources of information, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization only once or twice a day.
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Take advantage of stress management techniques. Think meditation, deep breathing and journaling. This is also a great time to practice gratitude. Meditation and breathing apps are available to make it easier.
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Stay in touch with friends and family. Touch base through phone calls, online games, video chats and virtual happy hours.
Eat Well
It's important to minimize our excursions to the grocery store to limit the spread of COVID-19. Consider online grocery shopping or home delivery options. Set on selecting your own items? Maintain a safe distance between yourself and others (at least 6 feet), wipe down surfaces with disinfectant wipes, avoid touching your face, and wash your hands before and after shopping.
With grocery stores limiting the purchase of specific items and advising people shop less often, eating well can be difficult. Make it more manageable with these strategies:
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Purchase shelf-stable and frozen foods. Staples such as frozen and canned produce, beans, and lentils will keep longer and are easy to incorporate into recipes.
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Take inventory of the items in your kitchen and get creative with cooking. Choose a recipe site where you can plug in ingredients you have on hand and see what pops up. (You can also browse our collection of tasty, healthy recipes.)
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Pay attention to portion sizes. When we're cooped up inside, it's easy to overindulge. Try to maintain your regular eating habits as much as possible and minimize your reliance on takeout and drive-thru options.
Move Well
Exercise is critical for both mental and physical health. Take advantage of virtual workouts and the great outdoors while gyms are closed. A few suggestions:
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Go for a brisk walk or run.
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Hop on your bicycle for a tour of your neighborhood.
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Try a new activity like Yoga, Tai Chi, or Zumba.
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Create an obstacle course at your home. Include activities like jumping jacks, pushups and squats. Then challenge your loved ones to virtual competitions.
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If you have children at home, incorporate them into your workouts and make it the PE portion of their day. Freeze dance, jump rope, break out a hula hoop. The options are seemingly endless.
Of course, all of our currently running challenges are also still valid, so while you are visiting Be Well don’t forget to check out more ways to earn points and rewards.
We would love to see how you are staying well! Share your Be Well photos and stories with us via email and we might feature you in next month’s issue of The Spot.