By MICHELLE HARKEY-WILDE
Los Alamos

It seems to me that life is becoming a bit less routine the past week. The public schools are closed for three weeks; college-age kids are coming home because their classes have shifted to being online; workplaces are also accommodating some changes; public gatherings are cancelled; and many worship services are also on hold. Sporting events and entertainment of many types are also disrupted.

So, potentially you might find yourself with a whole lot of time to fill. You might also be experiencing some additional worries and concerns. Perhaps you’re feeling more stressed than normal and the typical outlets for social distraction are not as appealing or perhaps not available.

True, we all still have our devices and screens, but is that really the best way to spend time?

May I make a few suggestions to promote vitality and wellness during this time?

• Stick to your schedule. Jobs and schools typically provide a schedule which we use as scaffolding for our lives. Without this, some people end up spending huge amounts of time in activities which do not benefit health and wellness. Create a schedule in which you commit to wake up at the typical time and engage in whatever telecommuting, work or school activities you have. Email your schedule to someone who cares about you and commit to a (perhaps mutual) accountability session on video chat.
• Exercise. Add this to your schedule, preferably in the morning since the mood enhancing benefits of exercise are clearly documented and you might as well feel that awesomeness all throughout the day. Even though your favorite gym might be closed, there are still many ways to exercise. Try one of our local trails on foot or on a bike. You’ll hopefully get the added benefit of sunshine. There are also many workouts available online.
• Get a new hobby or two. I suggest something that has a tangible outcome or definite end point so you can revel in the satisfaction of accomplishing something. A number of people I’ve talked with in the past week are opting to plant gardens. Several more are doing some cleaning projects.
• Work on yourself. Maybe this is the perfect time to read that self-improvement book or take an online class you’ve been putting off. Additionally, during times of uncertainty it is common to have a resurgence or emergence of mental health issues. As I’ve talked with my mental health colleagues, many of them are trying to offer telehealth services. As a provider of these online counseling services for several years, I can say it is a great way to receive services when in-person options are limited. Check with your provider about HIPAA compliant video counseling – the existing app on your phone likely isn’t enough.
• Stay connected. Even though our in-person options are more limited, it is still possible to connect with those who love and care for you. Isolation leads to problems, so reach out with a text, video chat or maybe an old-fashioned letter or two.

There are many more great ideas about what to do, please share them.

This is definitely the time to step forward, move out of your comfort zone (which is probably being stretch right not anyways – see previous articles) and embrace a greater, stronger, more resilient version of yourself.

Next week I’ll be back with some ideas about how to increase ‘be-ing-ness’ in your life.

Michelle Harkey-Wilde is a Body-Connection Coach, licensed mental health counselor, massage therapist and integrative wellness specialist. This column is for educational purposes only and does not create a client-practitioner relationship. You are responsible to exercise caution in implementing any ideas contained herein and accept responsibility for your actions. Consult with your physical and mental health practitioners before implementing any new practice.