3 easy ways to combat pandemic stress and anxiety

It's no secret that most people are more stressed and anxious now than before COVID-19 disrupted life. While there are many ways to manage these negative feelings, research shows that one effective method is by giving back. Not sure how to make an impact? Here are 3 ways to feel happier while creating positive change in your community.

Donate blood

When governors, mayors and other officials issued shelter-in-place orders this spring, blood drives across the United States were cancelled or postponed. A domino effect led to an extreme shortage in blood supplies. Thankfully, it's fairly quick and painless to donate. Not to mention it makes you feel good to know you're potentially saving someone's life.

To find a blood drive near you, simply click on either of the links below and type in your zip code. All blood types are in demand.

• Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin
• American Red Cross Blood Services

Say thank you

Ever heard the saying gratitude changes everything? Well, it might not change everything. But it can make you more joyful. Science shows that practicing gratitude—whether you write down a few things that you're thankful for every day or pen a letter to someone who's inspired you—leads to greater feelings of optimism and even better health.

If launching a gratitude practice feels daunting, consider starting small. Send a text, email or handwritten note to someone who has made a difference in your life—big or little, past or present. If, like others, you take pride in the dedication of our healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19, you also could take part in Gundersen's Thank our Healthcare Heroes campaign.

Participate in All of Us Research Program

The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired countless people to ask what they can do to contribute longer-term to the health of our communities. For some, they've found an answer in the All of Us Research Program. Gundersen has partnered with the National Institutes of Health to bring the All of Us Research Program to the Coulee Region.

The All of Us Research Program has a simple mission. We want to speed up health research breakthroughs. To do this, we're asking 1 million people to share health information. In the future, researchers can use these details to conduct thousands of health studies. As a proud partner of the All of Us Research Program, from the National Institutes of Health, Gundersen collects and provides health information from participants.

Learn more about the All of Us Research Program and how you can get involved.