With the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to take time for yourself to stay physically and mentally healthy. 

Vacations have been cancelled and social gatherings postponed, so the temptation to watch Netflix all day curled up on the couch may be stronger than ever. While this is a good way to destress after a long day, it’s important to mix up the routine. Here are some creative ways to maintain your healthy lifestyle.

Meditate

Meditation is a way to train your mind to focus and redirect negative thoughts, and it only takes about 30 minutes to an hour to “center” yourself. Light some candles, burn some essential oils and relax to the sound of soft music by only concentrating on the importance of your mind and body. The video will take you through a step-by-step tutorial on how to get in the correct mind state and how to meditate and relax: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4S4twjeWTs

Clean 

Yes, cleaning! Spring cleaning doesn’t just pass the time, it also makes your home much more organized and better looking. Sart off by cleaning your room or the place in which you spend the most time. Organizing your bathroom or even cleaning out your fridge and setting up a new kitchen can be fun. Start by cleaning out your fridge and hitting the grocery store, and organize it by specific types of food or change your entire diet completely. You can also check out amazon and re-paint or buy decorations to update your room the way you’ve always wanted to because now we have so much time. 

Do Some Arts & Crafts

Doing arts and crafts is the perfect way to keep yourself busy, relieve stress and open up a creative outlet. This will help keep your mind focused on putting how you feel into art, or just into enjoying the moment of making something fun and beautiful. 

Painting is one art project that is not only fun but also time consuming. Michael’s craft store is having unbelievable sales like 20% off regular priced items and 70% off of canvases. The store in gardens is closed until further notice, but feel free to make your online orders.

https://www.michaels.com/weekly-ad/weekly-ad?cm_mmc=SearchBrand-_-google-_-MICH_Search_US_N_Brand_General_Branded_Exact_N-_-Crafts+-+Coupons&kenshoo_ida=&kpid=go_cmp-331003211_adg-54081006660_ad-263038774772_kwd-356099507913_dev-c_ext-_prd-&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIr_LU_bLW6AIV0P7jBx0zKQ4yEAAYASAAEgKBV_D_BwE

Make Something Tasty

Cooking and baking are good ways to not only relieve stress but also enjoy a delicious meal. With family, whip up your favorite meal or have a themed food night by preparing hibachi or Salt Bae’s famous steak dinner. Finish off your dinner with a tasty dessert. This can be as easy as adding fun toppings to the ice cream taking up room in your freezer or as complicated as baking a layered cake. Think of your favorite sweets, and enjoy them with family. For a healthier alternative, try a fruit bouquet. Here are some video ideas that give you step by step instructions on how to make your favorite tasty treats. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQBb7O_atYI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b-n9rfn58E

Enjoy the Sun

Even though it feels like we’re basically trapped in our homes, it’s important to get outside and soak up the vitamin D. Enjoy your time on a lounge chair while reading your favorite book or listening to music. Go on apple music or spotify and listen to the music that best suits your mood or the latest top 100 hits. Being out in the sun only brings benefits like improvement to your health, better sleep, better mood and a healthier immune system. That means grab your favorite mystery or romance novel, and go absorb that vitamin D. 

Let’s Stay Physical 

Not only is keeping your mind healthy important but also your body, especially under a shelter-in-place order. Although gyms are closed and social distancing a must, there are plenty of ways you can stay active during this time.

Get Outside

Running, bike riding, swimming or even walking your dog are perfect ways to get in your 30 minutes of exercise a day. Even though beaches are closed, you can still run or walk along the adjacent sidewalks while taking in the fresh air and enjoying the view of the ocean. You can also take your bike along the beach or around the neighborhood to stay active. Most streets in Jupiter and Tequesta offer bike lanes, but please obey the rules of the road to stay safe. Swimming is also an effective way to stay active, especially with the warm and sunny weather. 

Reach for Healthy Snacks

When boredom strikes, it’s tempting to head to the kitchen and grab a few snacks. You still can, but choose some healthier alternatives. Instead of chips, go to veggies, and instead of sweets, eat fruits. With all of the time we have at home now, it gives plenty of time to watch videos on how to eat right and meal plan. Start planning your meals so you can portion your breakfast, lunch and dinner meals. If meal prepping isn’t your thing, now that we have a lot of time you can start cooking for yourself and not only will it give you practice, but it will make you feel better than just choosing to go through a fast food place. Here are some tips for beginners on meal prepping and some healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqSDawvUJ2w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NznGzWrVBx4&t=600s

Wash Your Car 

Washing your car will not only keep your car looking brand new but will also give you the best arm workout of your day. Grab your family and start soaping up your car while listening to music, or having a soap and water fight for even more fun.=