7 Ways To Destress During Quarantine

Who could have predicted that the word “quarantine” would be trending in 2020? Within a week we were social distancing, turning kitchens into offices & searching high & low for toilet paper. And while we’re finding the bright side during these crazy times of spending extra time with our families or picking up a new hobby, we also recognize that many are facing stressful days as well.

Here are 7 ways you can destress at home:

Move Your Body EVERYDAY for 30 Minutes

Did you know exercising releases a chemical in the brain called endorphins? Endorphins boost your happiness & help to relieve stress. We recommend getting in your workout in the morning so you can ride the endorphin wave all day long. You’ll be surprised to see how differently you handle stressful situations because of that endorphin kick.

Some other benefits you can experience from exercise:

  • Better Sleep & Mood

  • A Lower Heart Rate

  • Stronger Immune Function

  • Stronger Bones

  • Lower Blood Pressure

  • Mental Clarity

  • Weight Loss

Photo by Daniel Reche

Photo by Daniel Reche

Start A Gratitude Journal

When you shift your mindset to the things you’re grateful for in your life, you’ll focus less on the negative. Start by writing 3 things that you’re thankful for everyday & watch the change it has. These things can be as big as the house you’re in or as small as the sun shining through your window.

Behavioral studies have shown the following benefits of having a gratitude practice:

  • Improves Relationships - gratitude makes you friendlier, more social & willing to help others.

  • Increases Sleep Quality - you’ll sleep better, longer & fall asleep quicker too.

  • Improves Resiliency to Stress - you’re less likely to become fixated on the negative.

  • Improves Immune Function - gratitude increases optimism which enhances the cell-mediated immune system & the way your body fights viruses & bacteria.

Make Time for Prayer & Meditation

We believe that prayer & meditation have great power to keep you anchored in God’s perfect peace. You may ask what the difference between prayer & meditation is. Prayer is when you talk to God & meditation is when you listen to Him. Both are amazing tools to opening yourself up to receiving His peace especially during these times of heightened anxiety & stress.

Here are some starting practices:

  • Start Small - you’re much likely to stick to a new habit if you build on it slowly. Start with 5-10 minutes & increase from there to a desired time.

  • Get Comfortable - find a spot in your home that grants peace & comfortability.

  • Grab a Devotional - guides or devotionals are incredibly helpful for all experience levels. Most of them are short & sweet as well. We recommend Jesus Calling by Sarah Young or Hope For Each Day by Billy Graham.

Photo by reneeblack

Photo by reneeblack

Limit Social Media & News Outlets

There is A LOT of information floating around out there & that alone can feel overwhelming. Lets be honest, today’s media hasn’t been great with being 100% honest & sometimes there’s a hidden agenda to feed a certain story line. Social media can be a platform used to share good news & fun photos of what you & your family has been up to. However, be careful not to get sucked in to a rabbit hole. Setting a timer is a great way to monitor the time spent on these platforms.

We do encourage you to stay up to date with the latest recommendations from the CDC which you can find on the website at www.CDC.gov.

Get Outside

You can grab a 3 for 1 with this tip. We recommend getting our for some fresh air to exercise & leave your phone at home! Take this time to breathe in some fresh air, listen to the birds singing & soak in some vitamin D. Serotonin is a chemical in your brain when released makes you feel happy. The amount of serotonin you produce is affected by the amount of oxygen you inhale. So get outside & take some deep breathes to get that serotonin pumping & the happiness flowing!

Photo by Mandi Farmer

Photo by Mandi Farmer

Eat Healthy

We talk a lot about eating healthy at Maverick because we believe in the power of fueling the body with real food. There is an abundance of benefits that come from eating healthy but we’ll try to narrow it down:

  • Increases Energy

  • improves Sleep

  • Reduces Chance for Disease

  • Increases Confidence

  • Increases Heart Health

  • Maintains Healthy Cholesterol & Blood Pressure

  • Weight Loss

  • Strengthens Immunity System

We could talk about clean eating all day but we’ll save that for a future blog post - stay tuned!

Photo by Mandi Farmer

Photo by Mandi Farmer

Practice Self-Care

This can take form in various options. All of them should have one common goal, be enjoyable, relaxing & a little self-indulgent. Technically, everything we’ve talked about previously in this post can fall into the category of self care. But we also want to recommend you doing something thats just for you. If you’re not taking care of yourself, how are you going to take care of anyone else?

Here are some ideas for FUN self-care:

  • Read A Book

  • Watch A Movie or Favorite TV Show

  • Take A Nap

  • Soak In The Bath

  • Have A Dance Party

  • Bake A Favorite Recipe (or something new!)

  • Draw or Paint

  • Knit, Crochet or Sew

Photo by Free Photos.cc

Photo by Free Photos.cc

If you’re feeling overwhelmed & are having a hard time navigating the current time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our own Dr. Elaine Barnette. She specializes with those struggling with family conflict, depression, anxiety, relationship issues & childhood issues. She is currently available through our Tele-Health option. Contact her at 972-623-7966 or send us an email & we’ll get you set up. Your mental health is very important to us.

We would love to hear the things you’re doing to destress during quarantine! Share in the comments below.

StressJoshua FarmerMaverick Chiropracticquarantine, stress, mental health, physical healthComment