4 Simple Ways to Look and Feel Your Best as You Venture Out in the Age of COVID-19

Now that coronavirus restrictions are lifting throughout many parts of the world, your family may be anxious to venture out for an afternoon at the park, a trip to the zoo, or a small gathering with friends and loved ones. And while the thought of venturing out into public can feel a bit worrisome after several months of self-isolation, there are four things you can do to boost your physical, mental, and emotional health during the pandemic — and look and feel your very best. Read on to learn all about them!

1. Boost Immunity with Food

Whether you’ll be venturing out into the community or staying as close to home as possible, certain foods and nutrients can help to boost your immunity and protect you from the coronavirus whenever you leave home. Everyday Health recommends immunity-boosting nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, quercetin, magnesium, selenium, and vitamins C and E — often found in foods such as fish, tofu, oysters, dark chocolate, leafy greens, and citrus fruits.

2. Upgrade Your Wardrobe

In addition to incorporating more immune-boosting nutrients into your family’s meals, a few new pieces of clothing can help you to look and feel your absolute best after so many months of sheltering in place. Plus, you could shop for clothing in-store or online — depending on what you’re most comfortable with. Just don’t forget your protective face mask if you’ll be visiting a clothing retailer in a city, state, or county where masks are required or recommended.

If comfort is a top priority amid COVID-19, you can find plenty of comfortable, yet stylish clothing pieces that are perfect for lounging at home with your little ones, running a few errands, or attending a yoga class in the park. When buying leggings, however, look for a fashionable pair constructed from a durable fabric that stretches for maximum comfort.

3. Look for Stylish, Protective Face Coverings

As we touched on in the section above, face masks are required or strongly recommended in many parts of the U.S. — but that doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice style or comfort whenever you step foot outside your home. Vogue has a list of 100 stylish cloth masks on its website, or you can check out Healthline Parenthood’s eight recommended face masks for kids.

4. Exercise Wisely

In a time like COVID-19, regular physical activity is essential to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. However, it’s important to exercise wisely if you’ll be returning to your gym, yoga studio, or another public location — as this will help to protect you and your family from the coronavirus. As such, you’ll need to take the following precautions if you’ll be exercising outside of your home during the pandemic:

• Packing your gym bag with a face mask, towel, water bottle, disinfectant wipes, and hand sanitizer
• Avoiding group fitness classes with more than 10 participants
• Steering clear of locker rooms and other common areas
• Keeping a safe distance of at least six feet between you and other individuals
• Sanitizing your workout gear and equipment before each use and after

If you decide to exercise at home, just remember that you really need a dedicated space. Having a room is ideal, but if you don’t have the extra space, a distraction-free area will suffice. Just remember to keep it decluttered and organized, as exercising in a space filled with stuff can definitely spike your anxiety. What’s more, clutter can trap negative energy, which can disrupt the vibe you’re trying to achieve.

In Conclusion

Things like immunity-boosting nutrients, a new wardrobe, stylish face coverings, and regular exercise can all help you to look and feel your absolute best as stay-at-home restrictions lift and you begin to venture back out into the world, but keep in mind that home is the safest place you and your family can be. To play it safe during these frightening times, stay as close to home as possible — and opt for outdoor locations or well-ventilated spaces whenever possible.