Tips to Reduce Stress During Coronavirus

Jun 26

Photo by Marques Jackson/Filles Garcons Photography.

Pandemic life has stretched on longer than many of us expected, and to help you combat the stress, we’ve compiled these tips to reduce stress during coronavirus. From New Yorkers who have been living in quarantine for months to runners across the country, we’ve gathered all the insight to help you stay positive and motivated during this difficult time.

Chill with Mother Nature

Everyone agrees that getting out in nature is so therapeutic during coronavirus times.

“Going out for walks is really important right now,” says Brooklyn resident Marques Jackson. Fellow Brooklyn runner Mariel Feigen agrees.

“I am doing my best to keep running through this because there is so much uncertainty. It’s overwhelming at times. When I run, I know I’m at least accomplishing something, striving toward a goal of bettering myself, building confidence and strength in spite of uncertain times.”

— Nashville running coach Heather Moreau Kralj

“I go for walks almost every day and listen to podcasts or call a friend,” running coach Feigen says.

“Get out in nature! Walk, run or ride your bike,” says Nicole D’Angelo, owner of Yoga Collective NYC and Fabulous Vegan Recipes. “Feel the sun, smell the fresh air and be in the present moment.”

Just Dance

DJ Strawweight says music is a great way to de-stress, and she loves listening to dance music or tuning in to her favorite songs from when she was growing up.

And once you tune in, feel free to let loose and dance, she advises.

And speaking of movement, running is a great way to crush stress and elevate your mood.

Run Free

My favorite way to combat stressful times, especially during coronavirus, is to run. Running isn’t canceled. It’s one of the few things we can do during this crazy coronavirus pandemic, and it’s such a great stress reliever.

Coach Feigen urges runners to explore and try out new routes to keep your running interesting and enjoy new scenes. You don’t have to run the same route everyday. Running to parks or creating new routes in your neighborhood using back and side streets is a great way you can avoid crowded places while getting in a great mood boost.

Get a Coach

Hiring a running coach can make a world of difference by giving you a well-calculated running program that suits your fitness level and goals.

“This was super tough for me because I was training for races that have ALL been canceled and that is usually what motivated me,” says Nashville running coach Heather Moreau Kralj. “I am a coach but having a coach for myself helps me stay accountable as well,” she says.

Also, staying accountable is a bigger challenge now, without races and running partners, so a coach can help you stay on track.

Learn Something New

One of the most daunting things about coronavirus is the feeling of indefinite time. One of my new favorite ways to pass time is curling up with a book at night or taking a class and learning something new on those long weekend afternoons.

Check out Coursera for lots of free and reduced cost classes offered by accredited colleges across the U.S. I highly recommend their Science of Well-Being class at Yale University for learning scientifically-backed ways you can get happier and let go of things that make you miserable.

If you’re business-minded, I also recommend the classes at Learn at Forbes, which cover a wide range of topics from digital marketing to HR and management.

Meditate

Many of us have used the excuse we don’t have time to meditate but now we have more time than ever, in many cases, so why not try it? I have been doing a meditation streak with the Calm app for almost 200 days now, and it’s been amazing at helping me stay calm and deal with anxiety.

Meditation instructor D’Angelo recommends starting with 5 to 20 minutes of quiet time for your meditation practice. Start with 4 rounds of deep breathing, she advises, and sit in silence or listen to calming sounds. Let your thoughts come into your mind, observe them, and let them go.

As with running, meditation gets easier the more you practice, so don’t give up if it’s hard at first or your mind is racing.

Chill

Sometimes it’s too hard to focus or difficult to be productive during coronavirus, and that’s ok.

“Take breaks! It’s easy to feel like we’re hitting walls all day long with work, health, relationships, you name it,” says Drunk Yoga founder Eli Walker. “Take quick breaks and ‘reset,’” she advises.

Give yourself time to veg out with your favorite movies or TV shows. Tune out from present day pandemic worries by watching one of your favorite childhood movies, DJ Strawweight advises.

You can even do a theme night like ‘90s comedies, best thrillers, or old school summer hits.

How do you stay sane during this challenging time? Share your tips below.

Marnie Kunz is a RRCA-certified running coach and the creator of Runstreet Art Runs, which bring together communities through running and street art. She is a Brooklyn resident, running coach and writer. She enjoys traveling, art, and eating messily. You can follow her running and events at @Runstreet Instagram and Runstreet Facebook.

Disclaimer: Runstreet may get commission for purchases made through links in this post.

Resources: Coursera classes, The Science of Well-Being, Learn at Forbes, Calm app, CDC: Mental Health During Covid-19