April 3, 2020

10 Ways You Can Keep Calm and Stay Sane

By Clara Schlemeyer

The effects of COVID-19 across the world are unprecedented for each of us. Many of us have never been in a situation of such uncertainty before and it is okay to not be okay. These can feel like scary times but we, at the RLS Foundation, are always here for you—you are not alone. We have pulled together coping and wellness strategies to assist you during this time:

1. Keep your normal routine. This is especially helpful if you are working from home. Wake up at your normal time, take your usual shower, make your usual breakfast, etc. Keeping your routine will make your transition to working from home a little more manageable.
2. Practice daily self-care. Show yourself some love! Whether it is a glass of wine, that face mask that you love, a walk in the park or relaxing with a brand-new read—spend some time on yourself each day.
3. Watch your stress levels. This is a hard one with all the craziness going on, but turn off the news and watch a funny dog video on Facebook. Stress can negatively affect you both physically and emotionally; it may contribute to an increase in your RLS symptoms! So, make that cup of calming tea, find your happy place and have a good laugh.
4. Stay socially connected (virtually of course). Check on your family and friends via FaceTime, Zoom or WhatsApp to make sure they are doing alright. Check-in with distant relatives or reconnect with an old friend. These are the times we really need our loved ones in our circle. Show them you care!
5. Set yourself a timer and limit your access to the news. There is a difference between being informed and traumatizing yourself. Make sure you aren’t sucked into watching news programs for hours. Set a timer to help limit yourself and start a different activity when the time is up.
6. Find time for personal space. You may be “social distancing” with other family members in your home. Find a quiet, secluded space to get some alone time to check in with yourself and your needs.
7. Stay positive! Find a positive story in the news and share it with a friend. Reflect on one personal gratitude each day to remind yourself: everything will be okay.
8. Try meditation or yoga. Meditation and yoga have both been shown to reduced stress and with that may come a reduction in symptoms. You can find guided meditation and yoga sessions for free on the internet or the app store on your cell phone.
9. Engage your mind! Instead of bingeing the latest Netflix series, try a crossword puzzle, brain game apps, or a jigsaw puzzle. Try learning a new hobby such as knitting, crocheting or sewing.
10. Have some compassion for yourself. If you didn’t get everything done on your to-do list, it’s okay. Remember, we’re all tired after a long work day. It’s no different when working from home—it’s the same amount of work minus the commute. Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t up for a work out. Have some compassion for yourself, things will be alright. Everyone is in the same situation and is doing the best that they can.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram we have some fun activities planned for this month to get YOU engaged while you are quarantining at home. We’d love to hear about your coping strategies!