Time to start walking
Even if you have never taken a daily walk before, this is the time to start doing so.
This is the one thing you can do while continuing with social distancing and I would say it is a necessary part of your mental health and emotional well-being.
You don’t have to go far on your walk but you need to get outside. You need to breathe the fresh air, soak up some sunshine and gain a different perspective.
Spring is officially here, even if it does not feel like it. Hey, this week I saw several gophers exploring the world and surely that is a sign that hibernation has come to an end.
You can even take a family member or a friend with you on your walk. You can still practise social distancing while doing this. Meet a friend, walk two metres apart, enjoy chatting while you are out, shout out a hello from a distance to others who are also walking.
You are not touching each other and not close enough to transmit the virus.
The fresh air, different scenery and a word or two with others is a necessary part of your new normal while following recommendations from health leaders.
I am also hearing from many people who are watching T.V. or monitoring social media all day long.
That is going to make you more stressed than ever during this pandemic of COVID-19.
I would say it is a good idea to update your information, from a reliable source, three or four times a day and then switch off.
Perhaps you want to listen to the news first thing in the morning followed by reading the newspaper. Catch up on social media, if you like, in the early afternoon for a limited amount of time. I would suggest turning a timer on for 30 minutes and limiting yourself to that. Then rely of the official update from Alberta’s chief medical officer of health in the late afternoon.
If you have access to a computer you can listen to the update at albertahealth.ca/ COVID19 around 3:30 p.m. You can also watch the video afterwards and hear directly from Dr. Deena Hinshaw.
You will simply become overwhelmed and worried if you saturate yourself with COVID-19 news 24/7.
While practising social distancing many of us are still going to grocery stores to stock up on fresh supplies. There are a few ways you can protect yourself while doing this.
I have pulled out all my washable pairs of winter gloves and when I have to buy groceries I am changing my gloves when I reach my car afterwards. The used gloves go in a bag and then into the wash at home. It is a simple way to limit your interaction with surfaces that others have touched and it does not involve having to buy wipes.
Here’s to staying cheerful during the pandemic and here’s To Your Health.
To Your Health is a weekly column by Gillian Slade, health reporter for the News, bringing you news on health issues and research from around the world. You can reach her at gslade@medicinehatnews.com or 403-528-8635.