There isn’t enough stress on the need for mental health care. The COVID-19 has changed everything for everyone; it has brought pain, tears, mental breakdowns, fear, panic, chaos, anxiety, and helplessness. All these emotions and feelings affect your mental health directly. As much as one wants to do something about it, there is nothing you can do except stay put in the safety of your home and hope for the best. As lockdowns have become a regular part of everyone’s lives, it is crucial to take care of yourself and not drown in fear all the time. You can do few things that will improve your mental health and help you stay sane during these trying times. Here are a few tips.
1. Meditate
A few minutes of silencing your overactive mind can relieve a lot of worries and stress. Meditation is an age-old practice to revive and renew the mind. It is also known to boost emotional stability and induce compassion. It improves the quality of life and also has the capability to keep your winter illnesses at bay. Spending anywhere from 10-30 minutes a day in meditation can immensely be helpful. You can choose any mediation that you see fit and begin incorporating them into your daily routine. There are different meditation types like breathing meditation, hand movement meditation, gazing meditation, hand movement meditation, walking meditation, Tai Chi, etc. So, let the meditation begin!
2. Eating Healthy
Having diseases and health problems can be stressful. There is nothing that affects your mind other than your physical issues. Eating healthy can be one of the first steps towards achieving a healthy body and mind. The COVID-19 pandemic has awakened people and made everyone realize that nothing is more important than health. Adding more veggies and fruits to your plate is great for ensuring healthy eating. A healthy body will always make way for a healthy mind. In case you needed another reason to have fruits and veggies, then filling up on seven portions of them might make you happier! Who knew, right? Cook up some veggies today and start your day with some fruits. Better now than never.
3. Mindfulness
Thanks to human nature, it is so often that you start focusing so much on your past or future that you forego your present entirely! This can be damaging to quite an extent. By forgetting your present, you are consciously or subconsciously ruining it—the need to focus on the present without judging what you think or feel is a liberating practice. Mindfulness has become a mainstream practice in psychological therapy. It is the need of the hour to be stress-free and deliberately choose to stay in the present. It merely just means to stay in tune with yourself without getting carried away by anything. It betters your well-being. It also keeps your mind from wandering and helps you to see yourself in a truer light.
4. Tuning into Some Tunes
Music is therapy, and it is no secret! The answer is on your iPod or your phone and your earphones. Music, according to research, is known to uplift your mood and also stimulate creative thinking. Plugin your earphones and get some happy tunes playing. You can also get out of the house for a short walk and listen to music. These both combined wouldn’t only make you happy but also make you productive!
5. Declutter
While this may come as a surprise to you, clutter can stress you out. The messiness and unorganized room or desk or house can indirectly cause your agitation or bad mood. Sorting your space or house by rearranging papers, clothes, knickknacks, and desks can help you be more productive and reduce your stress! It will make you cheerful and calm. So, if you needed any more reasons to clean up your room or house, then this is it! This is also a form of self-care, and right now is the best time to start doing it!
6. The Scents
It is a learned fact that breathing exercises and breathing meditations are a great way of reducing stress. But what you breathe might be as crucial as how you breathe. Essential oils have been known to relieve you from anxiety and stress. A whiff of orange essential oil or rosemary oil can be a great stressbuster. As scents are subjective, what works for you might not work for another person. So, get your favorite scents home. Be it infusers or candles, or bottles. They are excellent at calming you down, and you will find yourself slowly relaxing.
7. Being Happy
This is easier than done. Being happy is not an accessory people can just go into a store and buy. Happiness always comes from within. Health has a direct relationship with happiness. You will notice that healthy people are just happy people. Research has also suggested that being happy can hugely prevent diseases. You don’t need a huge reason to be happy. The trick lies in finding happiness in the smallest of things. Happiness also has something to with gratitude. Why not find all the reasons to be grateful for? Crack a smile and see things looking up to you! Being alive is the biggest reason to be happy! Come on, show those teeth! Also, laughing is great medicine! Switch on a rom-com and get some popcorn. You will notice that laughing makes you feel light at heart.
8. Start an at-home exercise routine
There is nothing like sweating it out and channeling your energy and emotions through a workout! Exercising is known to be good for both your mental and physical health. Starting your day off with some workout can be a great way to start your lockdown day. The internet has plenty of options, videos, and websites to help you out. You can plan a workout routine for the week and stick to it accordingly. You can even sign up for virtual workout lessons. You can make some smoothies which is rich in protein, and store it in a flask or an insulated water bottle. Sip it right before you start your exercise!
9. Let yourself off the hook
This is probably the most important thing to keep in mind; don’t beat yourself up when things are not going right at your work or household. You are counterproductive when you get mad at yourself. Things might get a little tricky and shaky for a while, but don’t get worked up over it, as it will rob you of your peace. Whenever you feel you are losing control or helpless and want to hurl a string of insults yourself, sit down and take a breath. Reflect and understand if it is really necessary and try to maintain a sense of “we’re all in this together” at the front.
10. Get Out
Well, yes, getting out of the house can be refreshing for both your mind and body. Ditch the comfort of your home and head out for a while. According to a study, spending time in nature produces the same neural effects found during meditation. It is a great way to improve mood, reduce stress, and boost self-esteem! Wear your shoes and get out for a short walk. Put your headphones on and explore the areas near your house. If you know a park nearby, take a walk around it. Nature is always the solution. If you can’t head out, you can just go to your terrace for a short walk or spend some time on your lawn or balcony. Also, living in areas with green spaces can prove to be a great idea. You can also make a small garden on your balcony or yard.
Conclusion
Your state of mind plays a bigger role in your life than you would have imagined. You need to maintain calmness and take care of yourself, especially during the lockdown phase. It is easy to get into fear mode and let it drive your day or week, or month. Rather than caving into this widespread panic, focus on improving your mental health and see yourself getting healthier and better!