Best stress relief during Covid-19

Whether it was evident or not, Covid-19 took an emotional toll on us. Isolation, global detriment, craziness inside the house - it’s not a smooth ride back to normal.

We want healthy ways to manage stress, but not all are convenient. In fact, the easiest strategies were also the least effective. Individuals who used watching tv/movies, eating, and sleeping to relieve stress were more likely to report increased stress.

So, what did work?

1. Outdoor physical activity

2. Indoor physical activity

3. Reading

These require a bit more effort and energy on our part, but we can make it doable and maybe even fun.

Outdoor physical activity: 15min walk around the block, set up a BBQ with friends and play lawn games, choose the farthest parking space and walk to the front, find a new trail and explore.

Indoor physical activity: online dance classes, spring cleaning, cook up a romantic date night dinner, dress in old clothes and see which items you can donate, DIY home decor.

Reading: anything that interests you. Seriously, there’s reading material for everyone! Not a fan of books? Catch up on those ASHA magazines, or head to a bookstore for other mags.

Start with one thing, one day a week. The hardest step is getting started.

Tell us how it goes!

Share your story or experience. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @slpinharmony.

Vogel, E., Zhang, J., Peng, K., Heaney, C., Lu, Y., Lounsbury, D., Hsing, A., & Prochaska, J. (2022). Physical activity and stress management during COVID-19: A longitudinal survey study. Psychology & Health, 37(1), 51-61.