5 TIPS FOR COPING WITH COVID

PARTICLE STEPS TO HELP YOU FEEL BETTER.

My aim is to keep this simple focusing on the following areas of health and wellbeing. 

1. BREATHING
2. VITAMINS
3. REST
4. MINDFULLNESS
5. CONVALESENCE

Here are some tips for breathing more easily and helping reduce the anxiety around shortness of breath. 

When you feel that shortness of breath, just stop what you are doing. Do not panic. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen.

You can do this sitting down, where you are or take time lay on the floor or your bed. 

Allow your shoulders to drop. 

Notice any tightness in your body, know that is there and just breath as normally as you can. The tightness will pass. 

Let your tongue rest into your lower jaw.

Breath in through your nose, with your mouth closed. 

Breath out through your mouth, try and extend the out breath for as long as you can. 

Try and gently blow or huff the out breath as if you are steaming up a mirror or window with your breath. 

If you are sitting up, try and sit up as straight as possible.

VITAMINS 

It is generally known that both vitamin C and D aid recovery and are beneficial with Covid. However before embarking on mega dosages you should take professional advice where you can. At the very least consult with a consultant in health shop. 

In my recovery I was also advised to take zinc. 

I am a big believer in trying to achieve the benefits of food through diet. 

Pumpkin seeds area good source of Zinc, add them to cereals, much them raw, toast them and add to salads. 

Just a few ideas.

Often good health is about tweaking small habits to create big change.

Drink more water, eat fresh food. 

This is what I learnt from having Covid, its probably not what you expect.

Rest and Mindfulness.

It is not always going to be easy or even an option to rest. Not everyone has the luxury of time and the ability to go with the flow. 

However to be mindful of the need for rest is a start followed by making an effort to find time to do this will help.

You know yourself best. An idea is to take some time to reflect on choices and behaviour. 

Thinks about what you can change. 

Journalling is useful for this.

Ask yourself why it is hard to rest, write down the answers and then have a think about  you can change, when, where and how. This can feel overwhelming, so take it very slowly. Each small effort can lead to long and lasting change. 

This all starts with a thought. The ideas about breathing better and improving diet are a good place to begin.

Taking five minutes to look out of the window, sip water throughout  the day.

From my years of being a yoga teacher I know that people resist convalescence. 

I know that what we resist will persist.

I don't know anyone who will stay in bed for 6 weeks post virus, me included. But having had shingles in the past I know how important it is to give time rest and recuperate for long and sustainable recover.

But everyone is different. 

Be aware of your needs, and make a plan to accommodate these in your life. Be that better sleep, exercise, diet and rest.

Schedule time for self care. In my sleep classes and coaching I call this making a date with sleep. It can be as simple as carving out time for a bath. Epsom salts helps with tired limbs and they don't cost a lot. 

Book this time out. Put it in the diary, 

Taking a break from alcohol and processed food. Even if its just for one or two days a week.

Get out in in fresh air, go for a walk, no matter how short that is. 

Remember small steps make big changes. Long term sustainable health takes time. 

It is often a choice, I say choose health.