Epidemiologists all around the world are making efforts to limit the outspread of Covid-19. From maintaining social distancing to wearing face masks – they have devised different prevention techniques to ensure people don’t contract the virus. Likewise, another group of researchers is trying to combat the impact of Covid-19 on mental health. After all, staying indoors for months can be mentally exhausting for everyone.
Many people have gone through levels of fear and job loss due to uncertain economic conditions. Some of them have lost their loved ones in this pandemic. The lack of social contact coupled with fear and ambiguity has triggered different mental health issues. People living alone suffer from severe depression and anxiety while young adults are experiencing panic attacks due to the ongoing situation.
Currently, getting out of this situation might seem challenging, but it is not impossible. Instead of letting stress and anxiety make you feel vulnerable, take charge of the problem and look after your mental health. In case you don’t know from where to start, have a look below. Here are six ways to improve mental health and recover from pandemic stress.
Find a Distraction
Every day, we hear about the growing number of Covid-19 cases. Since we can’t control the ongoing situation, hearing about the outspread will further stress people out.
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So, why not find a distraction? You can catch up on the latest show on Netflix, re-read your favorite books, or try something different. Perhaps, you can start painting since it is pretty soothing.
Otherwise, if you want to do something productive or help people in these challenging times, explore e-learning opportunities.
Besides short courses, you can look for online MPH epidemiology to learn about chronic diseases and public health issues. In addition to improving career prospects, you can address public health concerns and devise adequate policies.
Maintain Social Connections
Undoubtedly, the pandemic eliminated all social interactions, but technology is trying to connect people. Hence, try to stay in contact with your family and friends. You can create a WhatsApp group and share how your day went with your friends. Similarly, you can have group video calls with your family members to catch up with them. Most workplaces have even created virtual forums where you can chat with your colleagues. Apart from this, you can join an online book or writing club to stay busy. We might be in social isolation, but it doesn’t mean we should feel lonely.
Manage Your Expectations
People think staying at home during the lockdown can significantly increase productivity levels. They fail to understand the emotional and cognitive load that this pandemic brings and its impact on productivity.
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Instead of feeling energized, most people are in a state of distraction. Hence, you might also face difficulty concentrating but remember, adapting to the new normal will take time. Therefore, go easy on yourself and try to settle into the new rhythm of remote work and e-learning. It doesn’t mean you have to go with the flow, but you should set realistic goals that you can achieve without overwhelming yourself.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness uses positive psychology to release the pressure from the brain and eliminate negative thoughts. For practicing mindfulness, you have to be attentive and aware of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. The technique relies on awareness of your different senses and refreshes triggers that cause stress or anxiety.
Once you identify the triggers causing anxiety, you can rewrite patterns to limit their impact. Mindfulness also incorporates a range of breathing exercises. The deep breaths bring more oxygen into the body and increase the space between stimulus and your heightened stress reaction. Thus, calming the brain and helping you relax.
Stick To A Routine
No matter how much you like pulling all-nighters and waking up late in the morning, having an improper routine is pretty unhealthy. Therefore, you have to maintain a proper routine at home. Firstly, fix your sleeping habits, which means you have to go to bed on time and wake up early.
Secondly, spare some time to prepare healthy home-cooked meals for yourself because consuming a nutritious diet is essential for mental health. Also, work in short bursts with clear breaks to maintain your clarity of thought. Besides this, you can go for a jog or do some stretching exercises at home to stay physically active.
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Try To Manage Stress
It is acceptable to feel vulnerable and distressed in these rough times. But you must acknowledge your feelings and manage them. Identify the thoughts and sensations that make you feel overwhelmed.
Usually, our feelings and actions can amplify negative emotional spirals. In addition to identifying your red flags, address every trigger separately. For instance, if your legs start shaking because of anxiety, manage the physical symptoms first. You can use deep breathing to relax the brain and regain control over your body.
Wrapping Up
Undoubtedly, recovering from the pandemic stress won’t be easy. But things can be different if we start taking charge of the situation. Instead of suffering from stress and anxiety, everyone can take measures to manage stress and overcome it. You can maintain a routine, find distractions, and stay in touch with your friends. After all, talking to other people and sharing your feelings with them can be soothing.
