Without a doubt, 2020 has been a really challenging year. Now it’s 2021, and it has been a year since the first corona outbreak in the world in December 2019. During times of global pandemic, we understand isolation, bereavement, loss of income, and fear are triggering mental health conditions. Many people may be facing increased levels of alcohol, drug use, insomnia, and anxiety. However, there are multiple ways to both protect and improve mental health during such times. Below are some of our tips and tricks to cope with stress in a healthy way:
How to protecting mental health and deal with stress during pandemic Covid-19?
- Take breaks and filter them
- Reach out
- Keep your regular routine
- Treat yourself to something nice every day
- Practice mindfulness
Protecting Mental Health and Deal with stress during Pandemic | Image source: google.com
It’s good to be informed, but hearing about the pandemic constantly can be upsetting. Consider limiting news to just a couple of times a day and disconnecting from phone, tv, and computer screens for a while. Also, Anxiety can be caused by over-reading the news and winding yourself up. Get back to things that are simple and stable. Take a walk, breathe fresh air, consume less information, and use trusted sources of information
As a growing number of people worldwide are being urged to remain at home and limit their physical contact with others, feelings of isolation may be on the rise. To prevent this isolation from adversely affecting your mental health, it is crucial to reach out to others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling through video calls or group chat. Feeling more connected and having the opportunity to discuss any potential worries and positive experiences with others is essential during times of crisis.
It is very important to get enough sleep, eat regularly, and maintain good hygiene. Maintaining a regular schedule is important to your mental health. In addition to sticking to a regular bedtime routine, keep consistent times for meals, bathing and getting dressed, work or study schedules, and exercise. Also set aside time for activities you enjoy. This predictability can make you feel more in control. But actually, it is these basic actions that help you survive.
Listen to your favorite song, watch your favorite movie, talk to the person who makes you happy. Even in difficult situations, you can find 15 minutes to please yourself with something you like.
The morning offers a great opportunity to practice your mindfulness. The day is just beginning, it is nice and quiet, and you may have a few moments to yourself. Instead of getting out of bed and rushing through a morning routine, I like to sit for a few minutes. I think about being thankful for the day and just let myself be in the present. Also you can start with meditation. Meditation is the art of mindfulness. In meditating, you are taking the time to connect with your mind. It does take some time to practice controlled breathing and to shut out all of the distractions, but it can be beneficial in so many ways.
Along with it being a time for mindfulness, it can also be great for relaxation and stress relief. In being mindful, you don’t want to avoid your feelings. Part of it is being in the present moment, just the way that it is. At some times, that might include feelings of joy, but you don’t want to try to force happy thoughts or resist any particular emotional response. Sometimes, you just need to accept unpleasant emotions as a part of the moment. Accept disappointment, sadness, anger, jealousy, etc. as what they are and allow yourself to feel them. You, of course, want to be mindful of how you react to the feelings but it is healthy to acknowledge them for what they are.
What we have shared with you is something simple that you can try on your daily basis. Simply check our “Kaliuda Gallery’s Tips & Tricks to Kick-Start your New Year” for more tips and tricks that you can apply to your daily routine. We hope this article may help you. By embracing good mental health and well-being and by relying on others when necessary, we can protect ourselves and those around us.