10 Tips for Mental Wellbeing during COVID-19
Unless you’ve been living off the grid for the past month, you’re familiar with the pandemic known as Coronavirus aka COVID-19. As local and federal governments begin to restrict people from leaving their homes, many people are finding themselves thrown into a life completely foreign to them. Below are a few tips to keep your mental and emotional wellbeing during this unprecedented time.
Exercise. Do an online workout or simply take a walk outside while honoring social distancing. Getting in your body gets you out of your head.
Turn off the news and social media notifications on your phone and set a time limit on how much media you consume. There is only a certain amount of news you need in order to stay informed. Everything else is excessive and contributing to a negative spiral. You don’t need “Breaking News” on 24/7.
Unplug from electronics and read a book or audiobook. Phones are incredibly addictive and during unsettling times like these, our minds are constantly looking for distraction. You may end up spiraling if you are not mindful about the media you consume.
Consider signing up for an online course. If you’ve ever wanted to learn something, now is the time to do it. So instead of getting on social media, you can do the course. You can learn practically anything on sites like Udemy.com and Coursera.org
Journal often. Write out thoughts as they come to mind without editing them. By giving the feelings a place to go gets them to leave your body.
Practice gratitude. Make a list of things that you’re grateful for everyday. Our brains have a cluster of nerves called the Reticular Activating System that filters out unnecessary information and helps you to focus on what’s important. By practicing gratitude, you are training your brain to focus on finding the good things in life, leading to increased happiness and joy.
Place boundaries around people who increase your anxiety. Limit your contact with them. Or simply say “I’m feeling really overwhelmed right now and I can’t talk about this anymore.” If you’re already experiencing stress, you do not need to adopt others’ stress as well.
Accept that social distancing, closed businesses, and bare shelves is the new normal...for now. The rational mind is searching for logic and reason behind this sudden change. As soon as we consciously accept things as they are, the swirl in your mind will begin to subside.
Do things that help you take some personal power back. It’s easy to feel powerless during a time like this. Ask yourself, “What can I do now for peace of mind?” For example, many people find comfort in art. It could be something as simple as printing some coloring pages off the internet and coloring them in.
Create a schedule for yourself. Humans are creatures of habit and we find comfort in the familiar. By consciously creating new routines we dictate how our day will go instead of floating around aimlessly throughout our day. For those with children, collaborate with other caretakers and create a daily schedule for the kids and yourself. Click here for a blank daily schedule.
We will get through this together. If you need some continued support, book a complimentary call here.
Donna Lieu is a certified success coach and mindfulness meditation instructor. She uses neuroscience-backed mindfulness techniques to help her clients reduce stress, get more present, and make positive long-lasting changes in their lives.