Jan L. Bergen
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of our lives in ways we never could have expected. One of the greatest impacts has been on how we connect with our family, friends, colleagues and other important people in our lives.
In even the best of years, the arrival of the colder, darker fall and winter months can lead many of us to occasionally feel a little blue. Now we face additional uncertainty about what the holiday season will look like for us this year.
As the days continue to get shorter, connecting with others remains essential to our overall well-being. COVID-19 has challenged us to get more creative in how we maintain those connections and engage in our favorite pastimes. As the pandemic continues to limit us, it’s more important than ever to keep our relationships strong.
While social distancing remains necessary to protect ourselves and others, I encourage you to find fun new virtual or other safe activities to bring you joy and amusement. I personally enjoy cooking favorite comfort food recipes to share with my family. I also look forward to regular Zoom calls with our loved ones and watching travel shows on places I have always wanted to visit.
LG Health’s Chief Well-Being Officer, Dr. Jennifer Collins, has discovered nearly endless options to build virtual connections, including escape rooms, team trivia games, cooking classes and TV viewing parties. Virtual fitness classes offer a way to get some exercise while connecting with others at the same time.
You’ll find plenty of ideas for fun activities with your co-workers and others in your life on LG Health’s Limeade wellness app. Dr. Collins and her colleagues recently completed a 1 Million Steps challenge for fitness, team-building and friendly competition.
Feeling connected to your community is also important during this time. We know that helping others can actually boost our own sense of well-being. There will be many opportunities to give back in the months ahead. I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities.
In order to fulfill our commitment to caring for others, we must first take care of ourselves. Please don’t be discouraged by the logistical challenges we currently face. Take advantage of this time to have fun exploring creative new ways to connect with the people who are most important to you.