Tips on Improving Mental Health During Quarantine
During uncertain and isolated times, it is hard to maintain and improve your mental health. According to the Washington Post, COVID-19 has caused America to fall into a mental health crisis. The same article discusses how more than one-third of American citizens have displayed signs of anxiety, depression, or both since the pandemic began. There’s no right way to cope, but here are five tips that are statistically proven to help better people’s mental health during quarantine.
Staying active and physically healthy.
Healthline and Psychology Today state exercise is a great way to stimulate dopamine release, but it is especially important now that everyone is spending a lot more time inside. Making sure you spend at least 30 minutes outside every day, go on regular walks and get around 8 hours of sleep can do wonders for how well you cope with stress and anxiety and can significantly improve your mental health. Well-balanced meals, meditation and other forms of self care are great ways to maintain a good mental health even while stuck inside.
Stay in touch with friends and family.
In times where isolation is necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it can be hard to keep communicating with friends and extended family you’d otherwise see almost every day. It’s important to not let quarantine affect personal relationships. Facetiming, calling and texting your loved ones consistently helps create a sense of community and connection, which can be especially lacking at this time. As BetterHealth Channel emphasizes, maintaining relationships goes hand in hand with maintaining mental health.
Take breaks from the news when you need to.
Seeing so much death and sickness in the news can often feel overwhelming. While it’s important to remain aware of what’s going on, it’s okay and encouraged to take a break from constantly reading about the virus and its effects. You should try and stay informed by reading sites that give helpful information rather than induce fear and anxiety.
Find ways to stay productive and explore different interests.
Newfound freetime doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Use this time to figure out more about yourself and your interests and find healthy coping mechanisms. This can be something as simple as painting to starting new projects in your community. Being productive can make you feel a lot more happy and at ease with the way you spend your time.
Seek online professional help if needed.
If you’re feeling especially sad or are concerned about your mental health during quarantine, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Even stuck at home, you can find ways to schedule appointments with an online therapist that best suits you, or call mental health and suicide prevention hotlines.
Feeling a decline in your mental health during quarantine is completely normal and taking these tips into consideration may help you during tough times.