Keep It Moving: How To Stay Physically Healthy During and After 2020 Quarantine

I know you sometimes find yourself looking around wondering how we got here - same. At this point, I've watched some of the most obscure shows on Netflix and I've curated a playlist for every mood. Yep, the Earth said, "F yo schedule and your plans!" and now we just have to adjust.

As days blend into each other and The Rona roams the streets, most of our everyday lives have changed. Quarantine life has forced many of us to self-isolate and transition to a more sedentary lifestyle. Without our once regular outlets, you may begin to face new challenges like stress, loneliness, depression, and gluttony from boredom. During this time, it's important to listen to your body and discover ways to relieve stress.

Physical Activity and Mental Health

Physical activity not only helps you stay healthy, but it can also have a significant impact on your mood. The Mayo Clinic says that exercise can shed your daily tensions through movement and physical activity, you may find that this focus on a single task, and the resulting energy and optimism, can help you remain calm and clear in everything you do.

With uncertainty and bad news coming at us from every direction, each of us should find a way to help us maintain some sense of normalcy and balance. Daily exercise or movement completely changes my mood, helps me sleep better, and prevents me from going off on someone for little to nothing.

How to Prioritize Your Body

Even if you're not one of the fitness girls on Instagram doing the most (like me), simply dancing to Megan Thee Stallion for twenty minutes could help you manage your stress levels.

So, what should you do next?

• Be intentional and set aside time in your schedule.

• Make a list of activities that you enjoy, it could be walking the dog or an online Zumba class.

• Find online resources that aid in physical activities, like Yoga with Adrienne, to guide you through an activity.

• Figure out what motivates you to get through physical activity, it could be music or a podcast.

• Set a goal that makes sense for you.

• Conduct continuous self check-ins to monitor how you're feeling for adjustments.

As you explore the possibilities, remember that this is all for you. Test things out and see how you feel, then make adjustments. The best part is this is a judgment-free zone, so learn that ridiculously hard TikTok routine with no shame and sweat it out.

The most important lesson I've learned is to treat myself well and do things that remove stress. It's time for you to do the same.