I wrote the original version of this post during the pandemic. Thankfully, we are no longer at the height of that crisis; however life inevitably brings other types of stress. Job loss, a scary health diagnosis, and grief for a loved one are all situations friends of mine are dealing with right now.
Times of crisis are not the ideal time to start counting calories or kick off a serious workout routine, but they are a necessary time to focus on doing what we can to stay mentally and physically healthy.
Manage stress with rest and recovery.
The parasympathetic nervous system’s job is to restore the body to a calm state; it’s the opposite of our fight-or-flight response. We want to help this system work well so we can better recover from stress.
5 ways to give your parasympathetic system a boost:
- Relaxing activities like gentle yoga, laughing with a friend, snuggling with a pet, taking a long bath, or sipping a cup of tea (or other low-caffeine beverage).
- Quiet time. If you choose to meditate, it doesn’t have to be a big production; all you need is a quiet place to let your mind settle. If meditation isn’t your thing, journaling can be a great way to focus the mind.
- Get outside. Go for a run, take the dog for a walk, do a bit of gardening, or play with the kids or grandkids.
- Exercise regularly but vary the intensity. Don’t go all out for every workout, and if you’re feeling extra stressed, consider backing off a bit in intensity. When you’re mentally exhausted, this affects your physical energy level, too.
- Get good sleep. Try to maintain a consistent sleep/wake schedule. Add a nap if you need it.
A few further tips and ideas:
- the news continues to be full of stressful/scary things; limit checking it to just once or twice a day
- put your smartphone down, or turn it off, at least two hours before bed
- give yourself grace; there is no perfect or one-size-fits-all way to deal with a crisis
- give yourself permission to feel your feelings
- talk to a friend, a therapist, or someone who has been where you are and come out the other side
Owner/Coach. Powered by tea, books, & sunshine. I help people build stronger, more resilient bodies — because fitness isn’t as much about what we do in the gym as what it helps us do beyond the gym.