LEWES, Del. - After being in isolation for over two months, many people find it hard to get back into the swing of things. Medical practitioners from Bayhealth Hospital and Delaware Psychological Services (DPS) have tips for post-quarantine wellness.
Bayhealth is calling weight-gained in isolation "Quarantine 15."
"At the end of the day it's calories in or calories out. Whether the excessive calories comes from snacking more ... If you're furloughed you may be at home more without a schedule, you may be drinking earlier in the day and that adds additional calories ... Moving more and eating less, or eating pure calories is what it comes down to," says Bayhealth Dietician, Alice Miller, LD, RDN.
Miller says it's important to do things in a healthy manner, like including more fruits and vegetables in your diet.
And if you're working from home, she says, "you can get up and get a bathroom break just make it a longer bathroom break, just walk for 5 minutes. if you do that 8 times a day, that's 40 minutes of exercise assuming you're getting up every hour.
Miller reminds people to do what makes them happy.
"It takes time to get out of a habit get out of a routine, and it takes time to get back into it ... kind of focusing on changes that make you feel good," she says.
And as for moving from isolation to socialization, Dr. Katie Elder, psychologist and owner of Delaware Psychological Services, says "I think it can be overwhelming to people, and can create a lot more anxiety because we have choices again."
But there are ways to keep calm, like "doing a workout video via Zoom or getting a meditation app or calling a friend versus getting together. Those options are still available," says Dr. Elder.
Both Miller and Dr. Elder suggest yoga as not only a good way to get active, but as something that can also benefit your mental health.
"I think overall people need to pause and make their decisions wisely, and not kind of get swept up with 'everything's reopening, I can go do whatever I want.' It would still help all of us mentally if we pause to say is this something I want to be involved in. Am I ready to socialize? Maybe I'm not, and you still have that choice."
Both Bayhealth Hospital and DPS can offer more guidance on physical or mental health.