TO BEING HEALTHY WHEN STAYING,
AND WORKING, AT HOME
By Hackensack Meridian Health As we all help to prevent the spread and
TheJournalNJ.com | MAY 2020 41
potential exposure to COVID-19, we
spend most of our time isolating at
home. This includes our temporary “new”
normal of working remotely, teaching our
children, caring for family members and
keeping ourselves safely quarantined.
T
ips for staying healthy at home:
Keep germs at bay. Remember to wash
your hands often with soap and water for at
least 20 seconds. This is especially important
after coughing, sneezing and blowing your
nose, and after being in a public setting. Use a hand sanitizer containing at
least 60% alcohol, if soap and water are not readily available. Avoid touching
your mouth, nose and eyes with unwashed hands. Disinfect frequently touched
surfaces in your home daily. This includes doorknobs, light switches, tables,
countertops, handles, toilets, faucets, sinks, desks, phones and keyboards.
Maintain workouts virtually. Sticking to a committed fitness routine is
difficult with gyms closed. Fortunately, there are plenty of exercises to do at
home with little or no equipment. Walk around the neighborhood, watch a yoga
video, perform bodyweight exercises (squats, push-ups, sit-ups) and use canned
goods as “weights”.
Stick to a meal schedule. It is difficult to follow a regimented meal plan
when spending so much time at home and oftentimes. snacking becomes
second nature. Meal preparation and designated mealtimes may help to
regulate consumption, ensure a balanced diet and prevent overindulgence.
Avoid ordering take-out foods that are highly processed.
Care for your mental health. It is important to stay abreast of the latest
information regarding COVID-19. However, you can get wrapped up in it,
which may increase anxiety levels. Stress-reducing strategies include taking a
break from the news and social media, getting plenty of sleep, reading a book,
practicing meditation and engaging in video chat with friends and family.
Stay hydrated. Adequate water and fluid
intake help to keep your body strong and able to
fight off viruses and infection. Track fluid intake
through available apps, drink a glass of water
before every meal, add natural flavor to water
through fruit infusion, use a reusable water bottle
and replace soda or coffee with water or seltzer.
Tip s for working healthy at home:
Pretend you are going into the office. Set
your alarm, make coffee, take a shower and
change out of your pjs to help you get into the
work mindset. Create a dedicated work space with
a door that closes to drown out the noise of pets, kids or TV to remain productive
and professional.
Set goals. Write out a daily and weekly to-do list involving your work and the
tasks to complete. With all the home distractions, it’s easy to lose focus.
Establish boundaries. Define work hours and schedule breaks throughout
the day. You need to know when to stop working to create a good work-life
balance. Give your eyes a break, too. It’s not healthy for your eyes to be glued
to a screen all day. Periodically, take a few minutes to look at something else to
reduce eye strain.
Check in with co-workers. Sure, working from home can be isolating,
especially if you’re used to a busy office environment. Check in with team
members during the day. An email, quick text or a friendly phone call is all
that’s needed. Just because everyone is practicing social distancing doesn’t
mean you need to feel so distant.
Keep your kitchen stocked with healthy food. Since you’re now so close
to your kitchen, it’s easier to snack on everything and anything. To avoid
temptation between meals, keep healthy snacks readily available. Fresh fruit,
cut-up vegetables and healthy granola bars can help curb unhealthy snacking.
Learn more about COVID-19 at HackensackMeridianHealth.org/COVID19.
10 TIPS
VIDEO VISIT TO
REDUCE COVID-19 EXPOSURE.
Now $20 for New Jersey residents with code HMH20.
FREE for Adults 65 and older with code HMHFREE.
If you suspect you’ve been exposed to coronavirus, or are experiencing only mild flu-like
symptoms, the CDC recommends screening through telehealth video visits. You can have
a video visit with a board-certified physician who can advise on whether COVID-19 testing
at an urgent care or other facility is necessary. Visit ConvenientCareNOW.com.
Due to heavy volume, wait times are longer than usual.
KEEP GETTING BETTER
$20 virtual visit costs will be reimbursed for any patient who is screened by Convenient Care NOW and then tests positive at an Hackensack Meridian care facility.
RMC-2104-COVID-20-65-8.25x4.875-Journal-20.indd 1 3/19/20 10:13 AM
/COVID19
/ConvenientCareNOW.com