Many of us are still holed up in our homes today due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While this measure is set in place to help slow down the spread of the virus, this situation has also brought in uncertainties on how we can establish a sense of normalcy while keeping our families safe.

As our communities are now in the process of gradually reopening, we still have to face the reality that COVID-19 will not go anywhere. With this, it’s important not to let our guard down and to carry on with precautionary habits to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Here are some of the habits that you and your family need to keep as we adapt to the “new normal”.

We still have to observe physical distancing

Our first line of defense against this virus is minimizing exposure. While it may be tempting to spend time outdoors with the weather now warming up, we should still try to limit trips outside the home to those that are essential. Exercising outdoors is fine but keep it really close to home.

When outside, you may wear a non-medical mask or face covering, if you wish. But the most important thing to observe is proper physical distancing – staying at least 2 meters apart from people who you don’t live with.

We still need to be meticulous about hygiene and cleanliness

Health professionals cannot stress the importance of these 2 things enough – frequent hand washing with soap and water and avoiding touching your face. These are most effective in reducing the risk of infection.

Additionally, it is recommended to disinfect high-touch surfaces inside the house often, using either regular household cleaners or diluted bleach. Be sure to follow label directions to ensure maximum efficacy.

We still need to take care of our mental health

In any crisis, it is but normal to feel stressed, anxious, scared or worried. Staying socially connected to friends and family through phone calls, video chats or social media may help alleviate these feelings. And so would meditation, exercise and getting plenty of sleep.

Know that professional help is still available. Contact your family for phone consultations.
Alternatively, you may also access support workers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals for confidential chat or phone sessions by texting WELLNESS to 686868 for youth or 741741 for adults.

We still have to look at what we eat

Maintaining a normal daily routine can help manage some of this uncertainty. One way of keeping it normal is by sticking to regular mealtimes and planning meals in advance. This can support yourself better in controlling hunger levels, meet your nutrient requirements and allow yourself to get the most out of the food you have and reduce food waste.

Staying at home especially with kids, can lead to snacking out of boredom. Practicing mindful eating is an effective strategy to maintain a healthy relationship with food to help balance energy intake.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Water is as essential as food to keep us energized, as well as boost our immune system. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day.

Fortunately, you don’t need to make frequent trips to the store to buy bottled water – IVO Water Purifier with built-in medical-grade filtration technology gives you clean and fresh water straight from your tap! Equipped with hollow fiber membrane – the same technology used in dialysis machines in the medical field, IVO Water Purifier filters microscopic impurities and microorganisms as little as 0.1 micron, all while leaving calcium, magnesium and other minerals essential to the human body.