Northview Blog Six Self-Isolation Issues And How to Resolve Them In Your Home November 3, 2020 When you feel like you’ve been trapped at home for months on end, you’re bound to hear a few complaints from your family. You may even have some concerns and worries of your own. From juggling homeschool and remote work to worrying about your family’s health, there’s a lot more on your plate these days. So make sure you have the tools and solutions that will help you resolve issues in self-isolation and help your family feel healthier, happier and safer. “I Feel Tired and Out of Focus Everyday” If you feel more tired than usual, an overflowing lockdown schedule could be the culprit. Since you can’t do much to alleviate these additional responsibilities, try focusing on the elements you can control. For example, changing your diet could give you the extra energy and focus you need to get through the day. Adding more fresh fruits, whole grains and healthy fats to your plate will provide the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to produce this energy boost. If putting together a grocery list and planning out meals isn’t a possibility, try out a healthy meal delivery service. “I Can’t Stick to New Habits in Lockdown” Even making small changes to your diet and health routines can be difficult, especially when you’re dealing with more stress. That’s why you may want to arm yourself with tech, such as the Pocket Personal Trainer smartphone app, which simplifies meal plan creation and setting workout goals - you’ll even get personalized tips from certified health coaches. Consider scheduling time on your calendar for workouts and try incorporating your entire family so that everyone can reap the physical and mental health benefits. “My Family Seems Much More Stressed” Planning out workouts in your health and fitness apps can not only help your family maintain their physical fitness, but it can also help everyone manage their mental health. So if you and your family have been feeling the effects of stress more than normal, getting up and getting moving could help release some of that tension. When you exercise, your brain produces more of the feel-good chemicals that are responsible for taming stress and reducing physical discomfort. “My Family Doesn’t Feel Safe Outdoors” If your family was used to running or exercising outside before the pandemic, being stuck indoors can cause even more stress and anxiety. While venturing outside of your yard and home may feel a bit scary, there are steps you can take to keep your family safe and healthy. Simply choosing a less crowded outdoor location can set your mind at ease. It’s also a good idea to always wear masks and use hand sanitizer to protect yourselves and others. “I’m Worried About Exercising With a Mask” If you want some added peace of mind, you could also invest in health tech like one of the latest smart watches from Apple. The Apple Watch Series 6 comes equipped with blood oxygen and electrocardiogram features to help you monitor your vitals while you’re working out outdoors, but they also include music and text features for added convenience. Monitoring your oxygen levels and heart rate can be extremely important if you are exercising outdoors with a mask on, so this could be a worthwhile investment. “We Feel Disconnected From Our Loved Ones” While keeping your distance from other people can be important for health and safety it’s also important to remember that humans still need connection. Social isolation can have especially dire effects on the health of seniors, who are unfortunately also at greater risk of COVID-19 complications. So explore ways to use email, video chat and other forms of tech to maintain social connections; after all, maintaining connection is vital for your mind, body and soul. We’re all doing the best that we can to keep our families and our communities healthy and safe. If your family is self-isolating as part of these efforts, it’s also important to find ways to relieve feelings of stress, anxiety and isolation that can lead to more serious mental and physical health issues. Of course, it’s equally essential to nurture your souls so keep the tips above handy but also look to Northview Church articles and services as you continue to self-isolate. by Emma Grace Brown Work Parenting Culture Self