THE PERFECT TIME TO JOIN
50% OFF MEMBERSHIP

We use cookies to provide and improve our services. By using our site, you consent to cookies.

Cookie Image

5 Actionable Ways You Can Protect Yourself and the Community During COVID-19

At this point we know that social distancing is key to reducing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Whether you are a young, healthy adult or part of the high-risk population, it’s crucial to practice social distancing to help the collective community.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).”

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that emerged in late 2019.

As fear and uncertainty build as the virus continues to spread and impact communities around the world, it is important to be informed and prepared.

Having a full understanding of what COVID-19 is and what we can do to help prevent it is how we stay informed. Using this information to create a plan is how we can help ourselves and our loved ones remain calm amidst the global health crisis.
 
 

Here Are 5 Ways You Can Protect Yourself and the Community During COVID-19:

 

1. Act As If You’re High Risk

Social distancing is crucial. Even if you are a young, healthy adult, it is important that we all do our part to slow the spread of the virus and help protect those who are high risk.

The issue with COVID-19, and why it has spread so quickly, is two parts: First, this coronavirus is highly contagious. Worse, it can spread even if we’re asymptomatic (not showing any symptoms).

Social distancing asks that we all act like that’s our grandma who’s at risk.

While you could have the coronavirus and not even show symptoms, if you were to come into contact with your elderly grandmother, the sickness could impact her much more seriously than it did you. Social distancing asks that we all act like that’s our grandma who’s at risk.

This is why health officials urge for social distancing to slow the spread. The more we remain home and avoid coming into contact with others, the more chance we have as a collective community in slowing the spread (especially for our high risk population).
 

 
 

2. Know the Facts About the Virus

As with anything online, there are countless sources of information, some more credible and accurate than others.

It can be easy to find inaccurate information which is why it’s so important to know the facts about COVID-19, and also have reliable sources you can trust for correct information.

Key facts about the coronavirus (COVID-19):

  • Most common symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath
  • Best prevention practices: wash your hands often, avoid public gatherings, cough and sneeze into your elbow, disinfect surfaces often
  • COVID-19 can live on plastic and stainless steel surfaces up to three days
  • Make sure you’re washing your hands with antibacterial soap
  • Hand sanitizer needs to have at least 60% alcohol but should not replace hand washing
  • Use 62%-71% alcohol or 0.5% hydrogen peroxide bleach to disinfect surfaces

Information sourced from WHO and BBC
 
Credible, reliable resources to stay informed:

 
If you’re looking for additional information and credible resources, we recommend starting with this article from the World Health Organization. It includes countless additional references and resources for you to conduct further research.
 

how-to-sanitize-durring-corona-virus

 

3. Take Preventative Measures for Your Home Base

Most of us are staying home most of the time, and our home needs to be our safe zone! First things first, clean and disinfect your entire home.

After that, take preventative measures to keep your home clean. Take your shoes off at the front door and wash your hands immediately. Don’t let strangers pet your dogs when you take them on walks.

Disinfect all commonly used surfaces (see #2 for best disinfecting products) on a daily basis. Wash your clothes after being out in public. Sanitize your phone often.

If you live in a public building, avoid contact with ‘high traffic’ surfaces like elevator buttons, door handles, etc. and be sure they are getting disinfected often. Take the stairs if possible and wash your hands immediately once you get back home.

These are all preventative steps we can take to reduce the amount of germs we spread and bring into our homes.
 

4. Take Your Exercise Online and Make Time for Self-Care

As we discussed in #1, social distancing is so important and that includes where you typically go to workout. Many people are choosing to avoid public gatherings of anything over ten people which could include yoga studios and gyms.

Luckily there is no shortage of online yoga and fitness options. YA Classes by YouAligned is an online yoga and fitness class membership with hundreds of online yoga, fitness, and meditation classes.
 

Practicing social distancing does not mean that you have to put your yoga practice and fitness routine on pause.

 
Making time for self-care is always important, but in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, staying calm and grounded should be of utmost priority.

You can still get outside for a walk, spend time in nature, take a bath, read a good book, create art, call a loved one, journal – take time to do the things that fill you up and make you feel good.
 

 
 

5. Be Prepared But Don’t Feed Into the Hysteria

Implementing a plan and knowing what we can do to help prevent further spread of COVID-19 is how we can be prepared but not afraid.

Being prepared means having a plan in place for the areas of your life that will be impacted from the coronavirus and potential closures, cancellations, and quarantines that may result.

According to the World Health Organization, it’s ideal to have a few week’s worth of food on hand, but we don’t need to “panic buy.” Planning ahead for the possibility of working from home, having kids home from school, etc is another great way to be prepared.
 

Implementing a plan and knowing what we can do to help prevent further spread of COVID-19 is how we can be prepared but not afraid.

 
Most importantly, remain calm. Getting stressed out does not help anyone. Take steps for stress relief, self-care, and maintaining good health. Eat healthy, drink a lot of water, maintain your yoga and exercise (or turn it up a notch!), and stay connected.

Even if you’re not able to be social in public right now, schedule FaceTime dates with loved ones and reach out if you need support.
 
 

We Can All Do Our Part to Protect Ourselves and the Community Amidst COVID-19

We can all do our part to help slow the spread of the virus and protect those who are high risk. In addition to the above steps we can take, keeping ourselves healthy and calm is also so important right now.

Stress can compromise your immune system response, so the less stress we take on, the healthier we’ll be for it.

While it’s easy to feel stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious about our current situation, it’s also possible to use the above steps to remain cool, calm, and collected.

Know that we are all in this together, and we will all get through this together! Wishing you all peace and good health from the YouAligned team.

This article has been read 1K+ times. Feelin’ the love!

Comments

wonderful comments!

Hit the Reset Button With These 7 Self-Care Rituals to Refresh and Revitalize Mind + Body
Self-care is necessary. These 7 self-care rituals are free or low cost and don’t take a lot of time. They will help you reset, recharge, and feel great.
Read »

YouAligned

YouAligned is an online yoga, health and wellness publication for your life on and off the mat. We are here to help you live happier, healthier, more fulfilled lives. Yoga is our passion. Your healthy lifestyle is our obsession!

youaligned.com

This Month's Letter
From the Editor

Monthly motivation and food for
thought from our founder.

READ THE LETTER
Mind, body & life wellness in your inbox.
iPhone

Get the
YA Classes App

No WiFi? No Problem! Download
classes and take them without an
internet connection.

2k+
Download YA Classes app on the Apple App Store
Download YA Classes app on the Google Play Store

Also available in Apple TV , Mac and Amazon apps.

Send this to a friend
Follow us on Close

Create Your FREE Account

Woohoo! You’re about to unlock unlimited articles, exclusive
community content, and select on-demand yoga and fitness classes.

OR USE THE FORM BELOW

Lost password?