COVID Update, March 24, 2020

Coronavirus Update, 3/24/20 - BE HEALTHY

With Tarrant County now implementing a "stay at home" order, virtually the entire DFW Metroplex is being ordered to shelter in place. I do believe this is a necessary step to limit the potential effects of COVID on our country. As bad as this has been in other countries, and in parts of our own country, we should take the lessons we've learned from those who had to deal with this before us, and implement any, and all, strategies to combat this. This is a novel virus, but our country, and our world, have dealt with catastrophic events before, and through community, steadfastness and ingenuity, we have conquered, and, ultimately, thrived.

Enough of my rambling, on to the topic of the day -

BE HEALTHY.

There is a lot of focus right now on avoiding getting sick. And, all of this focus is appropriate and well-intended. I implore you to continue to take all necessary precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading illness to others.

But, I want to make sure that we don't confuse "not getting sick" with BEING HEALTHY. In times of stress, we tend to fall into unhealthy habits. For some reason, we find comfort in junk food, inactivity and sleeping in. But, we all know these bad habits only compound our stress by adding un-health.

Health is more than the absence of illness or injury. Health is as much, or more, about what we put into our bodies, as it is about what we keep out. It's about what we do, more than what we don't do. So, here are some things to do for your health.

1. Eat healthy foods - I know groceries may be a little difficult to come by. But, if you can get your hands on fresh produce, simple ingredients, and healthy protein sources, you can eat healthy. This is a great time to break out some old recipe books, use simple ingredients, and cook as a family. You can also find healthy options from many local restaurants for carry-out.

2. Exercise regularly - Many of you have told me for years that you would love to exercise "if you just had the time." Guess what, time is what many of you have now. In the history of the world, it has never been easier to work out at home. The internet is full of home workouts, and many services are offering free content during this time. And, outside is still open. None of the recent policies limit individuals from being active outside.

3. Get enough sleep (but not too much) - Sleep requirement vary, with less sleep needed as you get older, but most adults 40-60 should get 7-8 hours of sleep per night. If your schedule has completely changed, I would encourage you to set a specific time to wake up each day, even if it's not necessary. Try to maintain good sleep hygiene, with a consistent bedtime, a good bedtime routine, etc. Avoid taking naps "just because you can."

BE HEALTHY