10 Ways to Care For Your Mental Health During The Lockdown
During the lockdown, you might feel as though you’re trapped in the confines of your home. And this isolation can put a lot of pressure on your mental health. An unprecedented time, no one could have predicted the effect that it has on one people’s mental wellbeing.
However, although you should, of course, seek professional help if you need it, there are simple techniques and tips that you can use to help soothe the stress that you’ve been feeling when in isolation. To help guide you in the right direction, here are 10 methods that you can use to care for your mental health throughout the pandemic:
- Stay Connected
Starting off the list is one of the most important things that people should be doing throughout quarantine. As no one is allowed to visit friends and family outside of their home, people are starting to feel lonely and isolated. However, in the modern day, you can still stay connected with your loved ones without risking anyone’s health to do so via the use of technology.
Whether you simply want to give them a call on your mobile, do a virtual call over Zoom or Skype, or you plan a whole virtual quiz/game night, you’ll be able to connect with those closest to you from the comfort of your home.
A huge benefit that everyone can take advantage of during this time, it will ensure that you can talk through anything you’ve been feeling, while catching up and seeing how they are feeling.
- Go for a Long Walk
Although extensive outdoor activity is still not allowed, you are allowed to head out for a long walk or another form of exercise each day. This is the perfect opportunity to clear your mind and get away from home for a while. A huge plus point for your mental wellbeing, you can take a breather and unwind away from your house.
Whether you live in a city or you live in the countryside, it will allow you to take a deep breath in and soothe your mind.
- Learn New Skills
Whether you’re working during the week or not, this lockdown presents you with an opportunity to learn exciting new skills which you might have put off learning pre-lockdown. No matter if this is painting, sewing, cooking, baking or another skill, this is the ultimate time to hone it.
This also will keep your mind productive and away from what’s happening in the news – something that’s very beneficial in the long run. It’s also a good way of connecting with your family who you’re living with – giving you a fun activity to enjoy together.
- Meditate
Another top way that you can relax and promote a sense of calm is through the art of meditation. Meditation brings with it a host of different benefits that you should pay attention to, from helping to control anxiety to promoting emotional health, improving sleep and reducing stress.
An activity that you can do anywhere and one that you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy, meditation is the ideal activity to undertake throughout the lockdown – and one that you can carry on for long afterwards.
- Self-Care, Self-Care, Self-Care
Self-care is always an important thing to practice – but never more so than during the lockdown. It’s easy to neglect yourself throughout this time – no matter if you’re trying to work remotely or you’re just waking up every day trying to find things to keep yourself busy – even if that’s just a movie marathon.
Self-care takes many forms and what you do will depend on your personal preferences. But typically, self-care will include the likes of unwinding in a serene bubble bath with a face mask and candles surrounding you, reading your favorite book in a peaceful corner of your home, perhaps relaxing with cbd (discover the difference between hemp vs cbd) listening to your favorite music, etc.
- Stick to a Routine
This might feel challenging throughout lockdown, but it’s important that you try and stick to a routine as much as possible. By doing this, it will ensure that your mental health is boosted and in check, as well as making the ‘new everyday’ feel as normal as it possibly can.
To do this effectively, you could create a diary in which you write down what you’ve done each day, along with the other errands you want to accomplish during quarantine. Helping you to feel more organized, it will ensure that every day doesn’t blend into one.
- Declutter
When you have a disorganized or messy home that you’re waking up to each day, it might have a direct negative impact on your mental health – making you feel unmotivated, unproductive and less happy overall. Many studies have supported this theory, showing the importance of decluttering and organization.
Throughout quarantine it’s an ideal time to get rid of things you no longer need, give your home a tidy and give it the spring clean it’s needed for a while. This will help to increase your endorphins and make you feel more positive. Although it might be tempting to not do this as no one is coming to visit, the effect it has on your mental wellbeing makes it well worth the effort.
- Help Others
Even the smallest act of kindness during this time will grant immediate and strong mental health benefits. Giving you a feeling of purpose and that you’ve helped those in need throughout the pandemic, you’ll come out of quarantine knowing that you did what was right.
This could either be in the form of raising money for the key frontline workers who are out there risking their lives throughout the pandemic, helping a neighbor by buying their grocery shopping for them or giving money to a local charity that’s in need.
- Plan a Trip!
Another way to get your mind away from what’s happening at the moment and give you something to look forward to is to plan a getaway that you can enjoy once the lockdown has been lifted and it’s safe to travel again. Whether this is a vacation that’s close to your home town or one that’s further away, it will get your creative juices flowing.
It will also give you something to save for over the next few months/year and get excited for No matter where or who you’re planning on going away with, it’s bound to be an extraordinary getaway that you’ll never forget.
- Do Some Gardening
As you’ll undoubtedly have a lot more free time at the moment, as well as decluttering within your house, you could take this opportunity to head out into your backyard and give it the much-needed TLC that it deserves. Over winter, it probably took the hit of the poor weather and you probably didn’t bother caring for it.
Well, now that it’s better weather and summer is fast approaching, it’s time to go out and plant some flowers, dig up the weeds, mow the lawn and do other tasks that you’ve been putting off. This will benefit your mental health in two ways.
Firstly, it will give you the chance to go out and enjoy the fresh air, giving you a break from the four walls of your home – a plus point that everyone will appreciate. And secondly, it will keep your mind active and give it something else to focus on – something that many could benefit from during the lockdown.