The crashing halt to our daily lives has been disruptive and, for many, is and continues to be depressive. Depression, stress, anxiety, and loneliness are just some of the negative emotions that have crept up on us during this pandemic. A few tweaks and adjustments can help us sail through the new-normal with a better mental state and emotional response.
Here are a few easy tricks to keep your mind sane.
- Stay informed but limit screen time. The constant bombardment of negative news can cause you to panic and feel depressed. Trust reliable news-sources to keep informed but limit your screen time with social media. A few reliable sources are BBC, the New-york times, CNN, and the Associated Press.
- Keep your routine. It is an excellent idea to keep up your pre-covid ways to feel a certain degree of normalcy. If you woke up at eight every day for work or school, continue to do so even now. Sleeping-in can have adverse effects on your natural cycle and make it that much harder to return to a regular schedule.
- Google is not your doctor. There is so much fake news and unnecessary information available online that you will be left feeling overwhelmed and uneasy. Google is not your doctor, so please refrain from self-prescribing medicines. Consult with a medical professional online. Most are taking on-call and online appointments.
- Stay connected. One of the worst things about the lockdown has undoubtedly been missing your family and friends. Stay connected with regular chats, call on special occasions; find ways to stay connected. You can always host a video house-party, play multiplayer games, or simply gossip.
- Manage money. Many of us may be temporarily unemployed, which can cause a load of stress and anxiety. This is the best time to learn how to budget, save, and invest. Knowing that you have enough funds for any emergency can significantly reduce your stress.
- Support others. Kindness and gratitude are some of the best ways to make yourself feel happier and less anxious. If you are in a position to extend monetary help to your loved ones, please do it. Use trustworthy apps like Lycaremit to transfer money to friends and family who are far away from you. Knowing that they are taken care of will help you feel much more relaxed.
All of us are dealing with the Covid situation differently, find out what works for you best, and if you are someone who suffers from any mental health troubles, do not stop your therapy or medication. Self-care is not selfish and mental health is as important as your physical well-being. Best of luck!
