With social distancing being practiced almost all over the world now, there are times when it can get really tough, especially for your mind and mental health. Whenever you turn on the television or scroll through your social media, you are coming across hundreds of posts and updates about the ongoing pandemic. Naturally, this can get really overwhelming.
Even though taking care of your mental health should always be a priority, it is an even bigger need now, taking into consideration, social distancing. With all the grim things that are happening around us, this can be a tough thing to do, though not impossible.
Here Are 8 Things You Can Do To Take Care Of Your Mental Health While Social Distancing
1. Don’t give in to the panic.
Yes, things are scary out there right now. Yes, this pandemic is nothing like we have seen before. But as they say, this too shall pass. There is a lot of misinformation and rumors bein spread like wildfire, and there are a lot of news channels who are simply sensationalizing everything just for a higher rating and viewership.
Don’t let all this put you into a state of panic. If you want to see any updates regarding this whole thing, then only listen to the medical experts and legitimate medical organizations. You will get all the information you will need to keep yourself and your family safe. So, relax and try not to get very panicky.
Feeling increasingly anxious these days? Read Coronavirus Anxiety: 5 Things You Can Do To Beat It
2. Calm your mind down.
The best way to calm your mind and soul is by connecting with them. Meditation is one of the most powerful and effective things you can resort to when it comes to this. Science has proved time and again that meditation can hugely help with anxiety, depression, and stress. It can also help with your emotional health and enhance your self-awareness.
Try to meditate for at least 20-30 minutes every day, preferably in the morning after you get up. This will help you have a positive start to your day, uplift your mood and also help you stay happy and positive. And positivity is something that is desperately needed during such a tumultuous time.
3. Practice some Yoga and Tai Chi.
Time and again, it has been seen and proved that yoga can tremendously help you when it comes to attaining clarity of thought. Almost all the movements of yoga are done with deep breathing techniques, which work towards calming your mind and body down. It can also help you balancing in balancing out your heart rate, effectively relaxing you and making you feel more at peace.
Another underrated thing is Tai Chi. Just like Yoga, Tai Chi is greatly beneficial when it comes to taking care of your mental health. Tai Chi will not just help you battle stress, it can help you in achieving calmness and a greater sense of well-being. While you are social distancing, this can be a great way to keep yourself healthy, both physically and mentally.
Want to know more about how yoga can help you? Read Meditation and Yoga Can Reverse DNA Reactions Which Cause Stress
4. Have adequate sleep.
Sleep is one of the most important and best things you can do when it comes to taking care of your mental health during social distancing. Inadequate sleep can make you feel irritable, forgetful, tired and distracted. And if you add mood swings to that, you can imagine how you will feel emotionally and mentally.
If you want to take care of your mental health, then you must never compromise on your sleep. EVER. Proper sleep can help you feel not just healthy and refreshed mentally and physically; it can also help you achieve a sense of self-awareness. So, go ahead and take that power nap!
5. Follow a healthy diet.
A healthy diet is directly connected to a healthy mind. It has been proved time and again, how a healthy diet can help you not just have a healthy body, but also a healthy mind. Tons of studies and surveys have shown that having a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables can tremendously help in minimizing the risk of depression, and also contributes to having a better mood overall.
While you are social distancing, try to have a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and all the essential nutrients like vitamins, proteins, calcium, carbohydrates, water, and minerals. Within just a few days, you will see a difference in your mental health.
Want to more about the advantages of having a healthy diet? Read Diet & Depression: 6 Ways Food Impacts Your Mental Health
6. Try to imbibe positivity.
Yes, being positive during a time like this can seem like a big challenge, but the least you can do is try. Would you rather feel more negative than you probably already do? Or would you want to feel a little better, positive and happier? Being positive has absolutely no cons, and there is no point in feeling negative about something that is out of your control.
So while you are social distancing, try to feel positive as much as you can. This will not just help you deal with the situation better, it will also make quarantine a whole lot easier to bear.
7. Practice gratefulness.
During a time like this, it is very important to be grateful. There are people out there who don’t have jobs anymore or don’t have a place to call home. Millions of healthcare workers are risking their lives and fighting this pandemic. You get to stay at home with your family and loved ones, while a lot of people are stuck in countries and millions of miles away from their families.
Take a moment to count your blessings and appreciate the fact that you are one of the lucky ones. Being grateful for all the good things you have will help you process all this, in a more positive and uplifting manner.
8. Write down your feelings.
Writing down your feelings or journaling can be really therapeutic if you find yourself overwhelmed with negative and worrying thoughts. Penning down everything you are thinking can serve as a vessel, and can help your heart feel lighter. If you feel like you are not being able to talk about a lot of things, or fear that people won’t understand what you are going through, then journaling is your best option.
Journaling is one of the most effective and best ways of taking care of your mental health during social distancing. It also helps with having mental clarity and soothes your mind and soul.
Social distancing might seem tough at times, but it’s the only thing you can do right now. If you are struggling in taking care of your mental health, then hopefully the above-mentioned ideas can help you out. Take care of yourself, be positive and hope for the best!
If you want to know more about taking care of your mental health during social distancing, then you might like this video:
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