It’s not only crazy to think we are in the middle of a pandemic – it’s scary. It’s anxiety producing and it’s taking a toll on not only the physical health of the world but also the mental health. We all need to make our mental health during quarantine a priority. Here are six ways I’m taking care of my mental health during this crisis…
Quarantine/Isolation/Social Distancing/Shelter at Home – different words but the toll on mental health is similar. Even as a proud homebody I’m going a little crazy. I joked the other day that I love staying home but only when I CHOOSE to stay home. I might have been joking but it was true.
We are all isolating in different circumstances, with a family, with a partner, completely by ourselves, or maybe with a pet. I’m with my mom and pets.
As if trying to navigate living with a parent again isn’t hard enough I get to add isolating with one. I should probably add that my mom is the opposite of me; she loves to go out and do things, she lives to talk to people, and the last time she binged watched anything on Netflix (prior to quarantine) was never. She’s the extrovert, I’m the introvert. She is also over 60 and has asthma – I’ve not let her out of the house in over two weeks.
The past few weeks all caught up to me last weekend – I felt as if I was floundering and was paralyzed with all this newness. So the past week I made an effort to focus on my mental health during quarantine. Here are the steps I took:
6 Ways to Focus on your Mental Health during Quarantine
Move your Body. I tried to move every day and didn’t sweat it if it wasn’t a full on workout. Whether it be a walk down the block, a stretch session for a few minutes, dance party in the kitchen, or (since I’m classified as essential and going in 1x/week) an extra far away parking job so I walk longer. Set a timer and move for at least 10 minutes today.
Get some Good Space. Everyone is (should be) spaced out right now but I made it a priority to get some good space. I took a bath, lit a candle, and had a glass of wine. I also shut the door and my mom respected my need for space. Another night, I grabbed a book and read in a different room from my mom. It’s like when you’re in a relationship and live together – you don’t have to do everything together – everyone needs their own personal space and time. Take it. Close a door and do something for yourself.
Connect (responsibly). Set up a happy hour via video conferencing with some friends. I reached out to friends and asked them how they were handling all this. I worked on connecting with my network. Seeing friends, in a healthy technological way, has a great effect on my spirits. Schedule a video chat with friends.
Click on Calm. Meditation apps were never my thing. They would pop up at the worst time – no app I cannot breathe for two minutes right now I”m in trial! – but since I don’t have physical hearings I decided to try it again. I have the Calm App now and it is helping. I sat down and figured out how to set it up and it just make my mind calmer. Download a meditation app and take a breath.
Do Good. When I went to the grocery store last week I called my second grandma and asked if she needed anything. On her list: toilet paper, paper towels, and chocolate frosting. She was baking a cake! Love her. We go see movies together but obviously haven’t been able to go lately so I also brought her some movie popcorn. After dropping everything at her house (all cloroxed down) it lifted my spirits. Maybe you can do the same, order delivery for someone, write a letter to nursing home residents, or sew masks for hospitals?
Gather good Surroundings. My work from home desk is a hodge podge of home office essentials but I have things that raise my spirits in plain view. It has plants, pictures of my nuggets, colored pens, and a candle. Definitely a big step up from a plain desk covered in files. Change up what you look at every day.
After focusing on these small steps I felt my mood lift and my mind become clearer. I’m going to keep taking these small steps to keep my mind clear(er) and hopefully my heart a little happier.
I know that being able to participate in social distancing is a privilege and one I don’t take for granted. There are also many many people who have it a lot harder than I do right now. I’m trying very hard to not trivialize what we are going through.
PS A friend suggested I turn off the news which I did for a little but that made me feel less connected and almost as if I was missing out on information vital to my safety. I turned it back on. To each their own.
