13 Best Practices for Staying Happy and Healthy Every Day

There’s no question that uncertain times are upon us. We are concerned for our safety, the welfare of our loved ones, and the state of the world. It is completely natural in these circumstances to feel anxious or afraid of the unknowns we are facing. However, for the past several days, I have been thinking about how we can best respond to these demanding times without letting fear take hold. I feel that jumping to the worst possible outcome serves no one.

Instead, I am deliberately choosing to focus on all the things that I can control, while keeping a mindset based on optimism and hope. That’s why today I am sharing some habits that can help us show up each day as our very best selves—because when you feel healthy and happy, it’s easier to remember that this, too, shall pass. Read on for some of the best practices that I will be practicing while Barry and I spend quality time together at our home on Long Island. They will help you stay healthy and thriving until life returns to normal.

First, reframe “social distancing” as an opportunity in disguise. Staying indoors for weeks or longer may not be anyone’s choice for the way you want to spend your time. This period will be far more pleasant if you choose to view it as an opportunity. Maybe it’s a chance to get closer to your partner or to bond with your children. Or it’s a chance to finally read the stack of books on your nightstand. Or a chance to develop new, positive habits about your meals and health. Look for the upside of staying home. It’s there somewhere; you just have to find it.

Focus on taking care of YOU. Many of us, particularly women, are busy being caregivers during this time, and it’s only right that we focus on how best to take care of our children, partners, and business associates right now. But in focusing so heavily on others, you may soon start to wonder, What about ME? It is important to carve out some time every day for self-care practices, such as taking a nice bath, doing some exercise, or having an uplifting call or Zoom conference with a friend. If you are staying in with a partner, exchange body or foot massages. If alone, do a self-pedicure and massage your feet with a nice lotion as a relaxing treat.

Put on a real “outfit” each day. Even if you plan to stay indoors all day, change out of your pajamas and get fully dressed. This practice is good for your mental health and should you need to leave the house for groceries at 3:00 p.m., you will be ready to walk out the door. For the record, you don’t need to wear your nicest clothes to feel put together. Comfortable jeans and a t-shirt or leggings paired with a zippered hoodie will be the perfect casual and cozy look. Save your nice blouses, pants, and dressy jewelry for those reunions with loved ones in the (hopefully near) future. You will most appreciate this advice when you walk by a mirror in your home or apartment during the day.

Drink enough purified water. Water does a body such good. Even if you are less active than normal right now, aim to drink plenty of water every day. I focus on drinking three to four quarts a day, and am trying to keep up with that practice. In addition to enjoying water cold or room temperature, I prefer to heat my water in a teapot and drink it hot.

Prioritize a good night’s rest. You probably already know how much sleep your body needs to function at its best to stay healthy. I know that I need eight hours per night. I can function on seven, but no less. If you aren’t already getting the amount of sleep you need, make a plan to ensure you get more rest. Maybe you need to turn off screens an hour earlier, or spend 20 minutes doing light yoga or reading a book to wind down. Do whatever is necessary to drift into dreamland.

Get some exercise every day. When you spend most of your time indoors, it’s all too easy to become inactive. To combat this risk, Barry and I are focusing on keeping a routine every day. Movement is positive and important. But if you do go outdoors for a walk around your neighborhood, do remember the “six foot” rule and keep a good distance from others.

Remember, hugging is important for connection. If you are quarantined with a family member, be sure to hug them often. If you are alone, put your arms around yourself, squeeze them tight, and wrap yourself in a hug. You will immediately feel better!  I know this works as I did it for years before I had Barry in my life.

Take this time to deeply clean and organize your closet. Spring is here, and even if you aren’t outside enjoying the sunshine as much as you would like, you can still do some spring cleaning. In fact, now is the perfect time to give your closet a deep clean. Pull out every shirt, pant, shoe, and accessory, and once empty, vacuum or sweep out your closet and wipe down all ledges and shelves to remove every trace of dust. (It’s likely that a lot has built up since the last time you cleaned.) While your clothes are in front of you, pull out any pieces that need to be stored away for the coming season, along with anything that needs to be repaired or donated. With those items out of the way, you will have room to swap in your lighter jackets, spring scarves, lightweight shirts, and maybe a spring sandal or flip-flop. Warm weather is just around the corner, and with a freshly organized closet, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running when it’s time to head outdoors and soak up the sun.

Reach out to those in your circle. Even though you are physically separated from your loved ones, you can still meet up virtually with a Facetime call or Zoom meeting. Do your best to keep the tone of the conversation positive. If you find the recipient spouting negativity you cannot handle, feel free to cut the call short and reconvene another time. It is not your responsibility to “lift everyone up.” If this happens, try closing your eyes and taking a few breaths to center yourself. Then send that person loving, peaceful thoughts.

Limit your intake of news about the pandemic and listen to something soothing instead. While it’s important to know what’s going on in the country and the world, it is unhealthy to listen to only bad news 24/7. So try to limit watching the news to once or twice a day just to get the updates you need. Focus on science and messaging from the CDC and WHO as guidelines for what to do and for understanding where we are in terms of this virus. Once you’ve been informed, switch to something that soothes you. After watching the morning news, I have been playing an Eva Cassidy station on my Pandora and have found it very soothing and a nice way to start the day.  

Indulge in pastimes you enjoy. This isn’t the time to deny yourself simple pleasures. Do things that make you happy and don’t feel guilty about it, be it reading for hours, watching an uplifting documentary or movie, or losing yourself in a day of painting or making music if you play an instrument.

Start a gratitude practice. Focus daily on everything for which you are grateful. Now these things can be quite simple, like having a place to live, food to eat, a connection with family and friends, or the blue sky, the trees blowing in the wind, and fresh air. If you have a journal, jot down the things you are grateful for each day.

Give meditation a try. The idea of “meditation” can be overwhelming to those who have not tried it and do not know the benefits it provides. But meditation can be a game changer in stressful situations like this. One suggestion I have given to clients I have worked with is to close your eyes and concentrate on the breath going in and out of your nose for 60 seconds. Try it and see if you don’t feel calmer. It’s really that simple. Next, try meditating for five minutes. If you notice your mind wandering, just gently redirect your focus back to the breath. If you wish, you can work your way up to longer periods of meditation.

I wish you all peace and good health during this stressful time. Remember that there is so much you can control right now; focus on those things, and it will help you keep a hopeful outlook. What are you doing in your life to take care of yourself and your family? Let me know in the comments.