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For advertising information, contact Bonnie Watts at watts@parking-mobility.org or 888.IPMI.NOW. For subscription changes, contact Tina Altman, taltman@parking-mobility.org. Parking & Mobility (ISSN 0896-2324 & USPS 001436) is published monthly by the International Parking & Mobility Institute. P.O. Box 25047 Alexandria, VA 22313 Phone: 888.IPMI.NOW Fax: 703.566.2267 Email: info@parking-mobility.org Website: parking-mobility.org Postmaster note: Send address label changes promptly to: Parking & Mobility P.O. Box 25047 Alexandria, VA 22313 Interactive electronic version of Parking & Mobility for members and subscribers only at parking-mobility. org/magazine. Periodical postage paid at Alexandria, Va., and additional mailing offices. Copyright © International Parking & Mobility Institute, 2020. Statements of fact and opinion expressed in articles contained if Parking & Mobility are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent an official expression of policy or opinion on the part of officers or the members of IPMI. Manuscripts, correspondence, articles, product releases, and all contributed materials are welcomed by Parking & Mobility; however, publication is subject to editing, if deemed necessary to conform to standards of publication. The subscription rate is included in IPMI annual dues. Subscription rate for non-members of IPMI is $120 per year (U.S. currency) in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. All other countries, $150. Back issues, $10. Parking & Mobility is printed on 10 percent recycled paper and on paper from trees grown specifically for that purpose.

/ENTRANCE Managing Coronavirus Anxiety and Stress

By Kathryn Hebert, PhD

PRE-COVID, anxiety and stress were already high in our fastpaced, high-expectation world, but predictable and plannable. Re-opening policies and executive orders are different in every city, state, and country.

Every day, we are worried about wearing masks, social distancing, WFH, Zooming, school hybrid models, transit, airplanes, grocery store (many trips to the wine shop), and just walking down the street. It’s like we are in an episode of the Twilight Zone or Groundhog Day— we will all wake up and everything will back to normal (maybe!).

You’ve heard it before—simple behavior changes to make a big difference:

Eat as healthy as you can. Stress and WFH make it easy to snack and eat more sugar and salt. Pace and plan meals/ snacks. Eat lots of fruit and veggies, small portions. It’s O.K. to have a cocktail and some wine with meals but pace yourself and drink lots of water. Stress can be dehydrating.

Get creative with exercise. Any physical activity is helpful. A simple walk around the neighborhood, stretches at home, taking the stairs. There are many exercise apps you can follow on your mobile/electronic devices. Keep it simple.

Stay socially connected. We are all in this together all over the world. Talking with people about how you feel is helpful. Use social media, texting, Zoom, facetime, in person from a safe distance (with masks). Every time you reach out is an opportunity to feel better.

Rest and relax. It’s important to replenish your energy and recharge your brain. Take breaks to rest throughout the day. Just getting up and walking around is helpful. Be sure to get enough sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, create a quiet, relaxing bedtime routine.

Get things done. Sometimes just cleaning out a closet or drawer can be energizing and rewarding. Maybe you could finally redo your kitchen or bathroom!

Take breaks from the news. While it’s important to stay up-to-date as things change and evolve, it is critical to take breaks. There’s a lot of misinformation going around; try to filter through fact and fiction.

Practice kindness Simple gestures mean a lot. Kindness adds up. There’s a proven link between kindness and feelings of happiness.

I am not an expert in stress management, but I’ve tried to practice what I preach. We all need to step back and do our part in creating a better world. Managing our stress and being kind are critical components of that. ◆

KATHRYN HEBERT, PhD, is director of transportation, mobility, and parking for the City of Norwalk, Conn., and a member of IPMI’s Board of Directors. She can be reached at khebert601@gmail.com.