3 Activities You can do to Stay Happy and Healthy While Social Distancing

As social distancing continues during the COVID-19 crisis, Americans 65+ need to find new and creative ways to stay connected and engaged with the world around us. These simple interactions help maintain good overall health and well-being.

Here are 3 things you can do to stay happy and healthy during COVID-19.

Staying in touch with friends and family– Staying connected with people, especially with those you love, is important. While it is still necessary for us to protect our health by social distancing, we can still connect with others through virtual calls. This allows us to keep in touch with loved ones and helps avoid feeling lonely or depressed, keeping our mental health up.

Take a virtual tour– Sometimes staying happy and healthy means traveling and pushing ourselves to explore new areas of interest. While the COVID-19 crisis has closed many cultural hubs and restricted travel, you can still discover something new from the comfort of your own home. From the Kenai Fjords in Alaska to the Dry Tortugas, there are plenty of stunning virtual tours available through Google Arts & Culture. Additionally for those who prefer museums or astronomy, both the Louvre and NASA are also offering virtual tours as well.

Stay Active– During the COVID-19 crisis,  Americans 65+ need to stay healthy now more than ever, so don’t give up on your exercise routines. Weather permitting, you can still go for walks or tend to your home garden to stay healthy.  For those who prefer in-home workouts, the SilverSneakers program offers many free virtual resources that can help you maintain strength, balance and flexibility. SilverSneakers also offers on-demand virtual classes for Medicare Advantage members covered by eligible health care providers.

Activities like these help keep your mind and body in good shape. No matter what you like to do, use this time to try something new. During the COVID-19 crisis, it’s important to keep up with family, push ourselves to experience new things, and continue with regular exercise routines.