Take care of your body

Healthy self-care tips start with the basics. Give your body what it needs, and avoid what it doesn't need.

Some tips for taking care of your body are:

• Get the right amount of sleep for you. A regular sleep schedule, which means you go to bed and get up at similar times each day, can help improve the quality of your sleep.
• Move your body. Regular physical activity and exercise can help reduce anxiety and improve mood. Any activity you can do regularly is a good choice. That may be a scheduled workout, a walk or even dancing to your favorite music. Walking with a family member, friend or neighbor can add in extra social support.
• Choose healthy food and drinks. Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy proteins. Limit food or drinks with added sugar, fat or salt.

Some things to avoid include smoking, vaping, or using alcohol or drugs. These may seem like ways to cope with stress or anxiety. But over time, these choices can cause their own problems. For example, if you smoke tobacco or vape, your risk of serious illness with COVID-19 goes up.