How to Stay Balanced and Healthy During Quarantine

To cope with the stresses of our current normal, we need to stay mentally and physically healthy.

For some, that means participating in the #ChloeTingChallenge workouts for the sweat and the community. For others, that means journaling every morning to have some peace before you begin another busy day.

Whatever you’re currently doing to stay balanced and healthy is perfect. But if you’re looking for more tips to maintain your wellness during this unprecedented time, here are 5 suggestions.

Focus on your breath

Your breath is the one thing you always have control over. Use this to your advantage! Feel more centered and grounded with quick breathing exercises or some meditation. It can be 10 minutes or less. But the simple act of focusing on your breath helps calm your parasympathetic nervous system (your heart rate slows and your body relaxes).

To make it more fun, try out one of these popular apps: Insight Timer, Headspace, or Calm. If you often find you’re too busy to take a moment to yourself, you probably need this the most.

Develop a self-care practice

Taking just 5-10 minutes for yourself before your day begins sets you up for success. Maybe you make a cup of matcha slowly or cook a healthy breakfast to enjoy on your front porch before the rest of the house wakes up. When you start your morning off with a solid self-care routine, you’re able to tackles whatever comes your way with a more clear head.

Manage your time wisely

Speaking of a clear head, distractions are rampant in our new remote world. But did you know that there are a variety of techniques, apps, and Chrome extensions to dismantle them one-by-one? Here are a few ways:

The Pomodoro Technique

You may recognize this time management method by another name: TomatoTimer. The idea is to choose a task, set the timer for 25 minutes, and work. When the timer is up, take a short break. After you’ve done four pomodoros (25-minute working slots plus breaks), you take a longer 20 or 30-minute rest. The greatest thing about the Pomodoro Technique is that it “teaches you to work with time, instead of struggling against it.”

Inbox When Ready

Find yourself stuck in your inbox rather than doing tasks that move the needle forward? You need Inbox When Ready for Gmail. Spend less time reacting to emails coming in and more time feeling like you have control over your day.

News Feed Eradicator

If you use social media for work, the News Feed Eradicator for Facebook is going to help you ward off distracting posts on your timeline. This prevents you from mindlessly scrolling through your news feed, which has a direct impact on your emotional and mental health. 

Screen Time

We’re all on our phones more than usual these days. Enter: Screen Time for iPhones. It allows you to set daily limits for certain apps or phone usage in general. It’s a great barrier to entry when you find yourself reaching for your phone out of habit or boredom.

Planner

Organizing your day is essential to prevent it from getting away from you. Whether you prefer Google Calendar or a physical planner is up to you. But having a single location where notes, call times, and project task information lives can help you from feeling scattered.

Rearrange your space

With all of us at home more than usual, have you considered rearranging your space? Setting up your home to fit your needs during this new normal can give you that much-needed boost of motivation and a sense of wellbeing.

If this means sequestering yourself to the NW corner of your home while your “coworkers” are in the SE… so be it. Ideally, you have an office or designated workspace. Although if that’s not possible and your home office setup happens to be in the kitchen, you’re in luck… 

Eat good food

NatureBox’s corporate snack boxes are now available for remote employees! 

No more stress-snacking on tortilla chips and tasteless pretzels that make you feel bloated. Grab a handful of adaptogenic snacks from NatureBox instead. For energy and focus without the caffeine or jitters, try the Peanut Butter Maca Cookies. Or if you’re looking for a nutrient-dense superfood snack that tastes good and is full of antioxidants, the Moringa Dark Chocolate Bars are for you.

When you eat healthy snacks that work with your body to bring it back into balance, snacking becomes a form of self-care. Staying well starts from the inside.