Ditch These Pandemic Habits

Occasional Zoom cocktails, laps around the kitchen island and mid-day naps are just a few of the ways you may have coped in the throes of a global pandemic. Of course, what you didn’t know was that you’d be relaxing your daily routine still today, nearly two years into the virus.

If the new, post-pandemic you is healthier, great! Keep doing what you’re doing. But if you picked up a few unhealthy habits along the way, we’re here to help – and to remind you to give yourself a little grace.

Kick the Big Six

Same pandemic. Countless different ways of managing the stress. So, where do you begin? We suggest tackling these six common pandemic habits first.

1. Reach out and connect again.

Fear of spreading the virus forced you into isolation. You were asked to cross the street to avoid fellow walkers. You couldn’t welcome new neighbors with fresh baked cookies. You even had to cancel family events. But these social interactions play an important role in your mental health. Now’s the time to get out and be social again.

2. Put down the phone.

Your phones kept you connected when the world shut down, which was good. But if you now find yourself spending too much time on your phone, you can thank a psychological phenomenon known as intermittent reinforcement — a known condition which keeps you coming back to your phone to check for “likes” on social media and funny videos on TikTok. Get a handle on your screen time by using your phone’s screen time tracker or downloading a monitoring app.

3. Bypass alcohol.

Alcohol sales went through the roof in spring 2020. For many, drinking a glass of wine or making a margarita was the easiest way to dull the pandemic pain. But drinking in excess is dangerous to both your physical and mental health. From now on, keep it to one drink per day (or no drink at all).

4. Practice intentional eating.

If you used the shutdown to learn how to cook healthy meals, you’re ahead of the game. But if your go-to was grocery and food delivery services to fuel your need for comfort foods and sweets, you have some work to do. Eating for stress relief is OK in moderation, but it can lead to weight gain and possible health complications when it becomes a habit. Use tools like food diaries to heighten your awareness and help you make good decisions about how you’re eating.

5. Brush up on your sleep hygiene.

The average adult needs between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. If you’re not hitting that target or if you feel tired every day, establish regular sleeping times, and stick to them. Unplugging from your phone and turning off the TV at least 30 minutes before bedtime is a good start. It’s also crucial you go to bed at the same time every night.

6. Get out and about.

Remember life beyond your four walls? Your daily stop at the local coffee shop? Yoga class? Book club? It’s time to get out of the house again. Exposure to other people, places and experiences will help you thrive.

Be good to yourself.

Changing your unhealthy habits isn’t easy. But it can be done with a solid plan and a little self-compassion. One popular strategy is to replace an unhealthy habit with a healthy one. Draw a warm bubble bath instead of pouring a glass of wine. Or take a short walk instead of watching a second episode of your favorite show.

But don’t get too carried away. Instead of dropping all your unhealthy habits at once, eliminate just one at a time. It may take a few weeks or even months, but you’ll get there if you stay the course and focus on the good things that will come with the change.