By now, we’re all aware that the effects of the pandemic and the resulting lockdowns can take a toll on our mental health and emotional wellbeing. Social isolation alongside anxiety about the health of those we love can make us feel lonely, angry, and generally despairing about the situation we – and the world – find ourselves in.
But there are many things you can do to mind your mental health during times like this. Here are some of the things you can do for your mental wellbeing, even in lockdown.
Establish a routine
Having a routine helps manage anxiety and will help you adapt quicker to this current reality. Create clear distinctions between work and non-work time, ideally in both your physical workspace and your headspace.
Find something to do that is not work and is not virus-related that brings you joy. Working in short bursts with clear breaks will help to maintain your clarity of thought.
Keep in touch with your feelings
Trying to bury how you’re feeling doesn’t work – sooner or later, those feelings will come back (often in the middle of the night, when your guard is down). Instead, identify how you’re feeling and why you’re feeling that way. If you’re not sure, talking it through with someone close to you can help work out what’s bothering you and may help them to understand you better, too.
Remember that it is OK to feel bad. For most people, our own lives are the mainframe of reference that we have. This year has brought massive changes, some of which have been for the worse. People all over the world are dealing with mental health issues caused by the pandemic. You are not alone.
Know that it is OK to feel low
Don’t feel guilty if you’re feeling bad about not being able to go on holiday or to see your friends. You’ve had things taken away from you, and it’s ok to grieve the loss of those things.
If you’re feeling sad a lot and you think you’re not coping, try not to blame yourself for that. It’s a normal reaction to difficult times: it doesn’t mean you’re a failure.
It is understandable to feel vulnerable or overwhelmed reading or hearing news about the pandemic. Acknowledge these feelings. Remind yourself and others to look after your physical and mental health.
Stay away from social media
Since we are all cooped up indoors, we often turn to our phones and social media to see our friends and loved ones. While this is healthy in small doses, it can be highly damaging if not kept in check. Turning to social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook can make you get lost in a world of make-believe and lead to unhealthy comparisons.
If you live alone and are stuck in a state away from your family and hometown, seeing others bonding with each other while you are not with them can often make you feel left out. Try to avoid this type of online content as much as you can.
Try to exercise and eat healthy foods
During times of stress or sadness, it’s easy to reach for a comforting snack or drink. Alcohol can make some people feel good in the short term and seem like a quick fix to an emotional problem, but it can cause your mood to dip. Exactly when the low mood strikes vary in different people – it could be shortly after the drink’s “warming” effects, or at some point during the next day – but drinking alcohol will not have a long-term cheering effect.
It’s less appealing and harder than ever to head outside for exercise. Still, the mental benefits do make it worthwhile, so don’t forget that you can always exercise indoors. Of course, if you’re heading out, remember to maintain social distancing. Also, it’s worth remembering that keeping healthy can help reduce your risk of suffering Covid-19 complications.
Stay connected with others
During times of stress, friends and families can be a good source of support. It is essential to keep in touch with them and other people in your life.
If you need to restrict your movements or self-isolate, try to stay connected to people in other ways, such as phone or video calls. Remember that talking things through with someone can help lessen worry or anxiety. You don't have to appear to be strong or to try to cope with things by yourself.
Limit the news intake
One of the ways how we try to take control of stressful situations is by gathering data. The problem, however, with an area as broad and intimidating as COVID-19 is that by plugging into the never-ending stream of news coverage and social media, we can quickly become overwhelmed.
It’s essential to be informed, but there’s a balance to be found. Consider watching the news just once in the morning or evening and then putting barriers in place for the rest of the day.
