Social distancing wasn’t a term anyone uttered a few short weeks ago, but for now, it’s a rule to live by. Whether you are adjusting to working from home, or adjusting to having far more “house mates” than normal, there are things you can do to keep yourself, your family and others in your home happy and healthy during these unusual circumstances.

1) Set and communicate a schedule for everyone in your household

This is key for you, and anyone you live with! Without a little planning and communication, social distancing may take on a whole new meaning. Whether you are trying to run a household with far more people at home than usual, adjusting to home schooled kids or work from home spouses, good communication and flexibility is the name of the game. Set aside time to work, play, eat, socialize and exercise and set timelines and boundaries for shared resources like computers, TV and exercise equipment. Make sure everyone has enough “space” for some individual quiet time.

2) Get enough sleep

When you work from home, it can be tempting to work less traditional hours and catch up on work late night or early morning, and for some people a non-traditional schedule works for them. But getting enough sleep is not only about how much you sleep, but how well you sleep, and how consistently you go to bed and get up. The National Sleep Foundation says that maintaining a consistent bedtime and morning routine regulates your body clock and can help you get to sleep faster and stay asleep longer.

3) Stay hydrated and eat well

Drinking plenty of water has always been good for your health, whether you work from home or not, but it’s even more important when you trying to stay healthy. With everyone’s grocery shopping lists looking a little unusual these days, resist the temptation to eat only processed foods. No matter how you are getting your groceries, there are still plenty of healthy and fresh fruits and veggies available – fit them into your menu plan!

4) Schedule movement time

Did you know that regular aerobic exercise, supports the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning? Not to mention that it’s great stress relief. If you live with children, exercise is a great way for them to work out their wiggles, which can help them focus on schoolwork, crafts and other quiet time activities as well.

Exercise is also a great way for your family or housemates to enjoy some bonding time and break up the workday. Regardless of what your work or family schedule is, try to block at least 30 minutes do something active each day. You don’t need any equipment to make it happen. Try going for a walk (while maintaining social distancing recommendations), walk up and down stairs, take advantage of one of the many online videos being offered by gyms and fitness experts.

5) Get the help you need using online resources

From buying groceries online, streaming entertainment, ordering takeout or scheduling a telehealth appointment with your doctor, so many businesses are using technology to offer their services online, including us! Use these tools to get the resources you need and communicate with your healthcare professionals if your needs can’t be met in a virtual environment.  And of course, please always call 911 if you have an emergency.

Social distancing during a time where many of us want and need a feeling of community support can be challenging, but we can share tips and ideas to get through it together (even when we’re not actually together). We’ll continue to share tips and tricks on our website and social media. We hope you’ll share your ideas with others too.