This week I came across a great Youtube video featuring Dr. Laurie Santos, a Professor at Yale University. You can watch the complete video here. I strongly urge you to watch the complete video, but I will summarize here.

Dr. Laurie Santos’ 5 Coping Tips during challenging times:

1. Exercise
   
   “Getting 1/2 an hour of cardio every morning is at times just as effective as a prescription of Zoloft.”
   
   
2. Gratitude
   
   “Research suggests that you can retrain your mind to become happier just by paying attention to things that you are grateful for. Write down 3 -5 things you are grateful for every day – by doing this – it will significantly improve your well-being in as little as two weeks.”
   
   
3. Sleep
   
   “Get rid of technology before going to bed.” Santos says she puts her phone in its own little bed away from her to get an uninterrupted sleep.
   
   
4. Get Social
   
   “Research shows happy people are more social and prioritize time with family and friends and they really try to schedule it in when times get busy.”
   
   
5. Be with your emotions
   
   Dr. Santos talks about a meditation technique here, called RAIN.
   
   Recognize
   Accept
   Investigate
   Nuture
   
   Her video is short and very helpful. It is worth clicking on the link above as this is just a summary. Her tips are super useful, especially now – since we are all struggling during COVID.