I had not planned to talk about quarantine today. I had actually planned to talk about how to get back on track AFTER quarantine. As I am writing this, I am in quarantine after exposure to COVID-19. This year has been full of setbacks toward my goals, so my first response was frustration (especially with my wedding in 5 months). After I stopped feeling sorry for myself, I decided to make the best of it and get creative. Unfortunately, many of us will probably have to be in quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19, so today I am going to share my tips on staying healthy if you have to go back into quarantine. (NOTE: If you are COVID-19 positive, please do not exercise unless cleared by your doctor. You need all of your energy to recover.)

1. Get outside

I cannot stress this enough. The fresh air and the sun will do you so much good! The day before I wrote this post, I was in a funk, so I moved my work outside. After an hour or so, I had a much clearer head, and I was productive the rest of the day. It is amazing what getting outside can do for our mental health.

2. Eat healthy

Thankfully, I went to the grocery store 2 hours before I was notified of exposure, so I was all stocked up on healthy food. If this is not the case for you, use grocery pickup or grocery delivery. My local grocery stores (Kroger, Target, and Walmart) are all doing free grocery pickup during the pandemic, so take advantage of that. Not only will eating healthy help you maintain your progress, but it will boost your immune system as well.

3. Drink all the water

I am the first to tell you how important hydration is, but I am also terrible at drinking enough water during the day. Water is so important to a healthy body. It supports basically every bodily function, including immune function. During this down time, be sure to stay hydrated to support your body.

4. Go for a walk

Getting movement in is so important. In my area, there are not many people out in the mornings or after 6pm, so I am going on daily morning or afternoon walks. Even though I can’t go to the gym, I can still move my body intentionally. Just in case, I take my mask with me so I can put it on if I am around people. If walks are not possible for you, walk up and down the stairs at your house or apartment or do some lunges in the kitchen while you are fixing dinner. Just move your body!

5. Find home workouts

I love lifting weights after a long day of school and work, so missing the gym has been the worst part for me. To prevent loss of progress and to decompress from the day, I have been doing home workouts following my typical split. Even though I am not lifting heavy, it provides a stimulus to my muscles to keep them active. Hopefully this will limit soreness when you go back to the gym. You can find at home workouts on YouTube or feel free to Dm me on Instagram, and I will help you find something fitting for you.

I hope these tips help you maintain your healthy habits in the event you do have to go back into quarantine again. As always, message me with any questions!

Xoxo,

Jessica