Dr. Courtney Chellew, a psychiatrist with Lehigh Valley Health Network, offers some tips for handling stress, fear and anxiety.

1. Permit 10 minutes of worry time, then put it on a mental shelf. Redirect worrisome thoughts when the mind goes back to that shelf.

2. Get together with people, either through technology or done safely in person, keeping in mind mask wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19.

3. Take up a hobby. It helps to feel creative and reduces stress.

4. Eat healthy and minimize processed foods.

5. Exercise. It also can reduce stress.

6. Get enough sleep. For most people, that is at least eight hours each night. Try to keep a routine by going to bed and waking up about the same time every day.

7. Limit caffeine and alcohol intake. Stress, fear, anxiety and depression can cause consumption of these to increase.

8. Reduce contact with the things that are causing fear, stress and anxiety.

9. Keep in mind the reasons to be positive, the good things in life.

10. If someone has died, then allow for a period of mourning. Also look for ways to honor that person, such as plant a tree, write a letter to him, look at pictures, talk about the loss with friends and family, and celebrate the person’s life.