If you’re feeling stressed out right now, you’re not alone. As COVID-19 continues to sweep across the country, many lives have been disrupted in some way. This level of stress could take a toll on your ability to stay focused, motivated and optimistic.

When tensions are high and each day is a blur, it might be harder to take care of yourself as well as you’d like. Here are some simple tips to reduce your stress and help keep your mind and body on the right track to tackle what’s next.

Give Yourself 30

Try waking up a half-hour earlier and enjoy your coffee, tea or juice in complete silence. Do not turn on the TV or check your smartphone. Use this time to enjoy the silence and peace of mind. If you can’t wake up earlier, try to find 30 minutes in the evening to clear your mind without interruptions.

Use a Three Count

Our days are a non-stop flood of calls, emails, texts, updates, statuses and more. If you are feeling extremely stressed or overtaxed, count to three before you pick up the phone or hit reply. These few seconds could help you focus on your reply — making your response have more value.

Drink Water

Sometimes the day can be so busy that we forget our bodies need some attention too. Drinking plenty of water is important for your overall health. Consider using a smaller bottle or glass to force more trips to the kitchen or water cooler. Those extra steps will help pick you up when you’re low on fuel.

Fight the Urge

The lure of your kitchen or break room can be strong, but mindlessly snacking on junk food won’t help you in the long run. If you can get to the store, stock up on healthy snacks that will help boost your energy level.

Make Fitness a Priority

Although most gyms across the country have closed their doors, many are hosting virtual workouts for your safety and convenience. Or you can find countless online, app-based or streaming workouts for free. If you can get outside, try scheduling a daily 15-minute break to walk and get some fresh air as you continue practicing social distancing. Although staying healthy during these uncertain times can be a challenge, exercise releases endorphins, which can help boost your mood.

Plan if You Can

Taking time to plan for the upcoming week is a great way to stay organized, manage your time and help ensure you make healthy decisions. If you’re working from home, keep regular hours for your work and your children’s schoolwork to reduce stress and maintain a sense of balance and structure. Schedule times to use common spaces in your home so that everyone can stay productive. Plan time in advance for healthy-meal prep, as well as exercise, to help keep you on track.

Clear the Clutter

It may seem obvious, but clearing out the clutter from your desk, office, car and home not only frees up space, but it can help free you emotionally as well. Keeping your stuff organized is a great way to stay focused and limit distractions.

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