COVID-19: 19 Things You Can Do to Take Care of Your Mental Health in the Midst of Social Distancing
Social distancing doesn’t mean stock up on toilet paper, live in complete isolation and never leave your house again - it means distance yourself from others and crowded spaces to avoid spreading the illness and harming those at risk. For many, this can be a stressful time. This pandemic can mean loss of work, worry about loved ones, changes in routine and lack of social interaction.
So what are some ways we can take care of ourselves, while avoiding public spaces to also take care of others?
Stay in touch with people you care about. We live in the age of social media! There are plenty of ways to stay connected without being in the same room. Skype, facetime, google hangouts, snapchat, instagram, facebook, twitter, xbox, playstation, tiktok….i could write a whole blog post about how many ways there are to stay connected. Remember that you are not alone. Remind others that they are not alone.
Spend time in nature. The benefits of nature for your mental health is a blog post for another time. There are so many and it’s getting warmer out!!
Practice self care. What does self care look like for you? What self care would you do if you were home more? Now is your time to develop new or better habits, strengthen old ones and just put yourself first for once.
Pick up an old or new hobby - learn a language, sing, play an instrument, build something, paint something, cook something. The possibilities are endless.
Spend quality time with pets or those you live with. Life is short. Life is busy. How many times have you said you wish you had more time at home with your pets? Take advantage of being able to spend time with them while you can.
Laugh. Laughter is contagious….the good kind. Did you know that laughter not only releases endorphins but also helps rewire your brain?
Exercise. Movement is as good for your brain as it is for your body. If you need guidance on how to work out at home, there are plenty of good resources online!
Write a letter or email to someone who mentored you in the past — a teacher, coach, friend, boss — and let them know how they have impacted your life and share what you are up to now. Something so simple may take you five minutes but can stay with that person forever.
Do some goal setting. Whether you have big goals in your future or have been feeling stagnant, now is a good time to figure out what moves you want to make and what resources, supports or changes you need to make them. Break your goals down into smaller actions that you can take daily so they are more manageable. You got this!
Practice mindfulness. Meditation is cool too!
Find a way to help someone. Is there an older person living near you who may need groceries or some other sort of assistance? See if there is a way to help them, without direct contact. Even if it’s just leaving flowers on their doorstep
Invent a new game and let us know how it goes!
Focus on what is in your control.
Practice gratitude. How can we turn situations around in our heads? Instead of feeling “trapped”, can we feel grateful for less commuting time, more time with pets, etc? Are you healthy? Do you have a good support system? What things can you be grateful for in your life right now?
Set a daily routine to try to maintain some normalcy. Don’t forget to shower and change out of PJs 😉
Laugh - did I say that already? You can never have enough laughter 😂😉
Remember that all things are temporary. This will not last forever.
Consider yourself a HERO. Seriously. As much as social distancing may be difficult, remember that your actions are helping save the lives of others. THAT is a big deal.
We want to know - What else are you doing to take care of your mental health? Send us your ideas and help us get to 19! We are stronger together.
If you need them, here as some good mental health resources you can take advantage of!
Stay safe and healthy out there! Don’t forget to wash your hands!
Written by Alex Katz