Maintain Mental Health During Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has made an extensive impact on the lives of all of us. Many of us are dealing with overwhelming and stressful situations. This can cause strong emotions in both adults & children. Necessary actions such as social distancing are required to bring down the spread of COVID-19. However, these actions can make us feel lonely & isolated and elevate stress and anxiety.
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Many people worldwide are facing challenges, including uncertainty, financial pressures, social isolation, and altered daily routines. Besides, you may worry about getting infected, losing your job, when the pandemic will last, and what the future holds. All these situations and overloaded information may adversely impact your mental health. In this defiant time, it’s crucial to maintain the routine as much as possible regarding nutrition, exercise, and sleep. We share here five ways to cope with stress & anxiety and preserve your mental health during the pandemic.
1) Stick to your routine:
It is essential to maintain a regular schedule for your mental health. Unstructured time can cause boredom, trigger anxiety or depression, and lead to unhealthy patterns of dealing with situations. Apart from sticking to a regular bedtime routine, be time-consistent for meals, bathing & getting dressed. Be regular in work or study schedules and also set aside time for leisure activities. Create clear distinctions between work & non-work time to make a balance in your life.
Keeping a healthy schedule also reduces fatigue and exhaustion that often arises due to too many options. So while starting your day in the morning, you must know about the things you are going to do today. Make a realistic schedule, let your family members on board with it, and try to stick with it as much as is possible.
2) Take care of your body:
Get plenty of sleep every day. Participate in regular physical activity because exercise can help lessen anxiety & improve mood. Choose a well-balanced diet and make sure that you are taking all the essential nutrients to boost your immune system. Limit caffeine as it can aggravate anxiety & stress. Alternately, you can try natural remedies like Green Roads CBD to alleviate anxiety.
Since COVID-19 affects the lungs, avoid smoking tobacco because it may put you at higher risk of getting lung disease. Do not use alcohol or drugs to cope because it can make things worse. Follow all the preventive measures as recommended by your healthcare provider. Get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine when available.
3) Limit exposure to news & social media:
Constant news relating to the pandemic may result in increased anxiety & distress. Make sure to distinguish news that is important to you and the news that could disrupt your mental health. Seek trusted information from reliable sources only at specific times. Make yourself aware of all the precautions and other measures to protect yourself and your loved ones. Limit the use of social media to get rid of rumors and false information. Discuss useful news with your family members and close ones so that any misinterpretation can be clarified. Besides, share any positive news or hopeful situation with your family to create a happy environment.
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4) Maintain connections:
Remember that social distancing does not imply social isolation. Stay in touch with your loved ones. Establish virtual connections with them via phone call, video call, email, text, or WhatsApp. Ask your co-workers how they’re doing and encourage them to stay positive. Enjoy virtual socializing and conversations with them from your home.
This is the time to help others. Find your purpose in helping the people around you. Do not forget to know the well-being of your family members, friends, and neighbors. If someone in your surrounding can’t go out, try to help them in the best possible way keeping the government’s recommendations on social distancing in view. Do not leave your family members or friends alone in this tough time. If a family member or friend requires to be isolated or quarantined at home or in the hospital, stay connected with them. Call them from time to time and strengthen them with positive talks and moral support.
5) Exercise & meditate:
Regular exercise releases chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which are as effective as antidepressants or psychotherapy for mental health. You may not have access to a gym in times of pandemic, so follow a daily exercise routine at home. Reserve your ten minutes for family yoga. Yoga is known to build resilience & immunity. When you do things together with family, positive & powerful energy is created.
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Practices like meditation and yoga can be tremendously helpful to relax your body and mind. Meditation is effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Meditation can manage negative emotions such as fear and anger. It helps to relieve stress, nourishes creativity, and allows you to focus on the present.
This is a stressful time for all of us. However, by adopting positive routine and well-being measures, we can protect ourselves and those around us. Stay positive and strong.