1.    Focus on the things that you can control and the things you can influence change over, and accept the things you cannot change. It helps you feel more empowered and less anxious.

2.    Spend at least 10 minutes per day outside, especially when it is a bright sunny day. The UV rays from the sun help your body synthesize serotonin, the happy hormone, which helps you feel happier.

3.    End your day writing a Gratitude List, of 5-10 things you are grateful for, from the day gone. It is difficult to feel down when you live with love and gratitude.

4.    Spend some time each day doing something for yourself, by yourself, something you love, something that brings you joy. That might be training, baking, reading a fiction book, coloring in, watching your favorite TV show, knitting, doing a cross word, taking a bath, meditating, anything that is just for you that brings you joy.

5.    Avoid drinking alcohol. Often people turn to alcohol to help them relax. The fact is alcohol is a toxin for your body so it does the complete opposite. It makes you feel consciously relaxed as it numbs your body reducing your sensors. However internally, your body is working so hard to remove this toxin, that it increases your stress levels, increasing cortisol the stress hormone, increases inflammation, putting strain on your adrenal system, increasing your blood glucose level and increase your fat stores. All of this together increase the risk of heart disease, cancer and Diabetes type 2. The alcohol might be numbing the sensors for the moment it is in your blood, however the damage it is causing to your body, your mood and mental state overall, is not worth it. Long term, it actually makes you feel worse, plummeting your energy and mood.

6.    Avoid excess consumption of sugar. Sugar causes a very similar response in the body to alcohol. It also triggers the opioid receptors in the brain, which as responsible for creating addiction.

7.    Connect with people as much and as often as you can. We are already in isolation. Isolating yourself from your community, that is your friends, family, church, gym, etc. is only causing further isolation and increasing the risk of depression and a downturn in your mental health. Humans are social beings and thrive best on interaction with other humans. The lack of interaction can actually cause your mental and physical health to deteriorate. So connect however you can through walks, Zoom meetings, Face time, phone calls, texting, virtual game nights, and virtual dinner dates, to name a few.

• Coach Terri