Photo taken on the usually packed 1 train in NYC at rush hour. Photo by Steven Velardo/@fatbikecitynyc.

“Keeping ourselves healthy and lowering our stress, which helps ward off sickness, has never been more important. ”

New York City feels like the apocalypse has arrived. Empty subway trains at rush hour, Broadway shows all shutting down, and Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn are closing their doors. Everyone is on edge, eyeing each other for signs of the coronavirus, or foul play. As millions of us are suddenly at home working or caring for kids, and news alerts about coronavirus cases doubling over night come in, it is hard not to feel anxious.

Photo by Marques Jackson/Filles Garcons Photography.

As a New Yorker and an already anxious person, I definitely have been hit with the fear and even all-out panic at times. But there are things we can do in these uncertain and rapidly changing times of coronavirus to maintain a sense of calm and normalcy. Things may be different for now, but that does not have to mean we panic (take it from me, having a breakdown in your small NYC apartment does not help).

Here are a few tips I’ve found that have helped me cope during coronavirus. If they can quell my overactive imagination and anxious mind, I hope they will be helpful for you as well:

Take time to prepare healthy food to nourish you during this stressful time.

Meditate. Meditation is the best way to start the day. It sets your focus and clears your mind from negative thoughts and habits. Instead of reaching for my phone and immediately looking at new coronavirus case numbers, I now meditate right when I wake up. Even a 10-minute meditation can make all the difference for changing your mindset for the day, and the physical breathing and slowing down will help prevent your nervous system from entering overdrive. I love the Calm app for guided meditations as well as sleep meditations.
Run! As we all know, running is a great stress reliever and will help you maintain a sense of balance and normalcy in your life. If you are able to get outside, an outdoor run is the perfect way to de-stress in great Mother Nature and take in beautiful art and scenes while calming your nerves. Join our upcoming Runstreet Virtual Art Run as we partner with the awesome street art app Find MASA for an extra boost of motivation and fun! You can join the run from anywhere in the world and showcase the beauty in your neighborhood!
Adapt your workouts. You may not be able to go to big fitness events or classes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t workout. This is a great opportunity to beef up your work from home gym or to get creative with your environment and do some bootcamp style workouts outside. I have temporarily stopped going to my gym in Brooklyn but I still want to do strength training so ordered some adjustable dumbbell weights on Amazon that I can lift at home.
Call your friends and co-workers. Just because we may have physical space between people doesn’t mean we can’t keep in touch virtually. Maintain your connections with people by calling or doing video chats. This is great for staying connected on work developments as well as for peace of mind and being able to keep up with your social circle. I have been doing a call each morning with Marques Jackson, our Creative Director, to keep in touch over current developments, cancellations, adjustments and above all, to check in about our physical and mental health and safety. We both know this check-in time gives us a space to vent, brainstorm ideas, and commiserate about current situations as well as inform each other of any big local updates.
Talk to your family/housemates/significant other. Check in everyday with your family, housemates or significant other to see how everyone is feeling, mentally and physically. This is really important to have people to connect with as stressful events continue to unfold around us and bombard us in the news 24/7. Talking about your feelings and stress helps take the weight off your shoulders.
Tune out. When the coronavirus hit, I got sucked into reading the news day and night, right when I woke up, and before I went to sleep, and let me say, it was not easy to sleep. Or focus on work. Or relax. Or do anything except freak out at the news and check Twitter. As a former journalist, I definitely believe it is important to know what is going on in the world, but we must learn the facts, from accredited scientists and news outlets, and not rely on unreliable sources. Also, we need to have a limit to how much news we can absorb. I realized I was reading the news like it was still my job, and it’s not, and it made me a wreck. I set a limit to turn off news by a certain time of evening. I have local city alerts that message my phone and anyone can call me in an emergency, but for my sanity, I have to tune out at times. Set your own limits for how much news and media you can absorb, and resist the urge to check obsessively when it is harming your mental health.
Adapt your work schedule. My dad, who is a master of remaining calm while also planning ahead meticulously, gave me this great advice. He said prepare and plan for what you can and make a daily schedule that gives you a sense of normalcy and allows you to focus on your work and health. I set up a routine for morning meditation, working from home, afternoon runs, and evening news before unwinding for the night. Create your own schedule and make sure to give yourself extra time for self care such as workouts, cooking meals, calling family or friends. It is no doubt a stressful time with coronavirus in the world,
Take time for hobbies and entertainment. This seems to be Netflix and chill time for the world. Take a break from the news and worrying about coronavirus and catch up on your favorite Netflix show or movie. It’s a good time to get a premium 4K fire stick or HDR fire TV stick for streaming all your favorite shows, movies and news programs without the costs of cable and subscriptions.
Remember, this too shall pass. Although it may seem like there is no end in sight for coronavirus and the devastation it is bringing, there will be an end. All we can do is be prepared in our homes and take as many precautions as possible to keep ourselves and others healthy, and wait. Keeping ourselves healthy and lowering our stress, which helps ward off sickness, has never been more important.
Have compassion. We are all in this together. Literally, all of the world is in this and no one knows exactly how things will pan out. So remember you are not alone. Do not rush to judge others, don’t jump on any racist conspiracy theories, and stand up to ignorant or hateful comments that other may make. We are all human beings and we are all grappling to understand coronavirus. Reach out to others when you can - check in with older family members, see if your senior neighbor needs anything delivered, and let people know the options for food delivery, etc. My parents, who are in their 70s, are used to shopping for groceries, but I sent them resources for online shopping, such as Whole Foods/Amazon Prime Now and Amazon Fresh. Even Costco delivers. So they can lessen their human contact and avoid big crowds shopping in stores. Let’s spread the word to older people, many of whom do not know about these resources. Be kind and give what you can to others and to support emergency medical personnel around the world who are risking their lives to combat this pandemic.

What is helping you stay well during this time of coronavirus pandemic? Feel free to share your tips in the comments 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 earn commission from affiliate links placed in this post.

Resources: Food and Supply Delivery: Whole Foods/Amazon Prime Now , Amazon Fresh, Costco, Wegmens Delivery, Mental Health: Psychology Today Find a Therapist, Talkspace Text Therapy

10 Tips for Self-Care, Mental Health During Coronavirus

Find Art For Your Runs with Murals and Street Art (MASA) App

Running Venice Beach: A Travel Guide