Expert Advice On How to Find the Perfect Balance During COVID-19

Paula Blanchet, RHN

Instagram: @_interplay_nutrition

“I have a list of things I need to do around the house, and I try to tackle one thing a day. This leaves more things on the list so if I’m going to be stuck in my house for many weeks to come, I won’t run out of things to do. I then commit to the rest of the day focused on preparing healthy food, catching up on my reading, and getting some exercise. Having a plan each day and trying to make it a little different breaks up the monotony and makes me feel like I’m getting things accomplished.”

Dr. Cassie Irwin, ND

Instagram: @drcassieirwin

“At the beginning of the lockdown, I made sure to do things that consistently bring me joy; taking a rejuvenating walk in nature, following a live-stream yoga session, and watching reruns of beloved TV shows (hello, office antics at Dunder Mifflin!). While the days themselves were pleasant enough, I eventually felt like I was living the same day over and over – a bit like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day! I broke the cycle by committing to do one different joy-promoting activity every day, whether that’s playing a game of Scrabble in the middle of a weekday, folding origami, or attending my first-ever virtual birthday party on Zoom. While I haven’t used my time to learn a new skill or accomplish a major goal, I’ve been prioritizing rest and fun as a way to bring balance back into my normally fast-paced life.”

Find out more from Dr. Irwin HERE.

Matthew Kadey, RD, MS

Instagram: @rocketfuelfood

“I’ve had to unplug from the non-stop COVID-19 news coverage. I found that I was getting mentally exhausted by following the situation too closely. Finding a balance and checking in just once or twice daily for a short period of time has made a big difference in my mental health.”

More of Matthew's work can be found HERE.

Dr. Gillian Flower, ND

Facebook: OttawaIntegrativeCancerCentre

“I'm trying to follow my own advice! I am also working to stay in the present moment and trying to solve the problem at hand. Being a working parent at home, this usually involves feeding someone or setting up an activity. I am trying to flip the meaning of this situation where possible, embracing the positive side of all this unexpected time with my young family, rather than dwelling on the juggling act.”

Get more information from Dr. Flower HERE.

Want more pro tips? Check out our other installment about supporting your mental health.