The world is totally crazy right now. Living through a global pandemic is taking its toll on our mental health, particularly if you’re new to working from home.
The mental health impacts of COVID-19 could end up becoming as widespread as the disease itself. The increase in stress, anxiety and loneliness as a result of quarantine measures is something health organisations, including the WHO, are concerned about.
Just because we can’t see what’s going on in the mind, doesn’t mean we should ignore it.
Coping with mental health challenges can be incredibly complex under normal circumstances, and the added layer of coronavirus anxiety is certainly not helping matters.
Protecting your mental health isn’t always easy but it’s more important now than ever before. Here are three things you can start doing right now to put your mental wellbeing first.
1. Put yourself on news rations
I get it, you want to be informed about what’s going on in the world. I know, I do too. But there is such a thing as too much news.
With 24/7 media detailing every twist and turn of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s no wonder so many of us are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. There’s so much information out there, you could easily spend all day just keeping up with the latest COVID-19 stories.
Ration yourself to just 30 minutes of news a day — ten minutes in the morning, ten minutes over lunch and another ten minutes in the evening (but not right before you go to bed). This way you will still have an awareness of what’s happening, without being all-consumed by negative headlines.
2. Don’t compare your life to social media
Now more than ever, we’re leaning on social media platforms to feel connected to others. Imagine if this whole pandemic happened in 2005 when Facebook was barely a thing! Life would be a lot more tricky, that’s for sure.
Remember, social media isn’t always real life. People tend to post about the positive aspects of their lives, not so much the difficult moments.
While social media can help us feel part of a community, especially in times of crisis, it’s important to keep social media use in check. It’s really easy to scroll through Instagram and think everyone else’s life is better than yours or that all your friends are coping with lockdown better than you. Continually comparing yourself to others can send you into a spiral of negativity, which only reinforces coronavirus anxiety.
Remember, social media isn’t always real life. People tend to post about the positive aspects of their lives, not so much the difficult moments. Whenever you find yourself starting to think everyone else is doing better than you, keep that in mind.
3. Do at least one activity a day away from a screen
Between working from home, home-schooling children and trying to get an online delivery slot for groceries, we’re all attached to our screens. I dread to think how many hours I spend a day staring at my phone!
While it’s impossible to escape screens entirely, spending just thirty minutes a day away from your laptop or phone will do wonders for your mental health. With excessive smartphone use linked to heightened stress and anxiety, taking a step back once a day can only be a good thing.
Explore new hobbies, such as crafting, or rekindle ones that you’ve got out of the habit of doing. The more physical your non-screen activity is, the better. The endorphins released during exercise make you feel good and help combat stress.
Make protecting your mental health a priority
Our mental wellbeing is just as important as our physical health. Just because we can’t see what’s going on in the mind, doesn’t mean we should ignore it.
Who knows how long we will be living with coronavirus. That is outside our control. Let’s focus on the things that are within our power. By making time for ourselves and protecting our mind, we will be all the stronger to handle whatever lies ahead.
