Make Your Mental Health a Priority While Self-Isolating
As the surrounding COVID-19 continues to progress, fear and stress have begun to seep into the minds of many people. After all, to combat the spread of this virus, many governments have issued stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders. While these orders aim to protect the health and safety of the general public, they also force people to remain in their homes, away from work and away from most social interactions. While their physical health remains a priority, many people’s mental health has taken a hit while self-isolating.
These governments had to make the necessary, but difficult, decisions to slow the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve. Many people did not predict how much of an impact these orders and the entire situation around COVID-19 would have. Being forced to remain indoors can impact the mental health of many.
Lifeworks Counseling Center understands how valuable maintaining your mental health is, especially during periods of uncertainty and stress like the one we currently face. Self-isolating allows us to protect our bodies, but people were not prepared for the impact on their mental health. Today, we are going to help you manage your mental health while self-isolating by highlighting useful tips.
While many of these stay-at-home orders have affected many businesses, Lifeworks Counseling Center will continue to provide our clients with teletherapy services. Contact us today to learn how we can help you during this time.
The Impact of Staying Home
Many people in the workforce would have relished staying home to save lives, thinking that they can take this time to relax in the comfort of their homes. However, as time has passed, more and more people have begun to realize how much of a negative impact this much time spent indoors and away from social interaction has on your mental health.
As time passes, many people have begun to experience restlessness and stress. Naturally, much of these negative emotions stem from the fear and stress surrounding COVID-19. At the time of this writing, the World Health Organization has reported that the virus has:
- Nearly 3 million confirmed cases worldwide
- Over 200,000 confirmed deaths worldwide
These numbers are startling and naturally lead to fear and distress. Along with the fear this virus brings, people’s daily routines have been disrupted. They can no longer engage in their daily routines and habits due to the restrictions enforced by local governments. Dr. Rajiv Tandon, who leads Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine’s psychiatry department, states that the impact of long-term social distancing can lead to greater feelings of isolation, among other mental health concerns. He mentions how the disruption of our routines can lead to greater feelings of anxiety and depression.
People are forced to reshape their days to meet their financial and material needs, as many have been put out of work. But they should also place focus on their psychological and emotional needs.
There are several things you can do to help maintain your mental health and overall health while self-isolating.
Maintaining Your Mental Health
Even though we are all living in a period of unrest, unlike anything the world has seen, there are countless things you can do to ensure your health and safety. First and foremost, you can continue to practice social distancing and good hygiene. The White House has developed guidelines for proper social distancing. While these guidelines can help keep you from falling ill, there is still plenty you can do to manage your mental health while self-isolating. The WHO even released a mental health guide for those that are self-isolating.
Stay Busy
While this may seem difficult, especially since many people are not working at this time, gyms and theaters are closed, and other places of entertainment are closed, staying busy is one of the best ways to maintain your mental health. While you are self-isolating, look for any projects you have been putting off. Maybe there is a home project you can get started on. You can pick up a new hobby, like cooking, knitting, or picking up a new instrument. You can start learning a new language. Now is the perfect time to pick something up that you have long since been putting off.
Exercise at Home
Unfortunately, during this period of social distancing, most gyms across the country have been closed. Working out is one of the best ways people stay busy and ease stress. After all, exercise is one of the best ways to boost your mental health. Even though gyms are closed, you can still get in a good workout at home. Whether that means going for a run, practicing yoga, or doing bodyweight exercises, you can find a fun and intense at-home workout during this time. The internet is full of different exercises you can do.
Communicate with Your Loved Ones
While you should social distance, that does not mean you cannot interact and communicate with friends and family. Now more than ever is the best time to keep up with your social networks. If possible, you should try to video chat with someone at least once a day if you don’t live with someone else. You can even set aside a time every week to host a virtual “happy hour” with a group of friends. Continue to communicate during this time.
Practice Mindfulness
This is a trying time for millions of people across the globe, with many people feeling scared and stressed. Even though stay-at-home orders aim to protect communities, it has left many feeling trapped. However, you must remember that this is not a punishment, but a form of altruism by doing the right thing. If you are feeling stressed and restless, consider adopting meditation and practicing mindfulness. This will help you reduce your stress and improve your overall mood.
The entire team at Lifeworks Counseling Center understands how difficult self-isolating can be, especially on your mental health. During this trying time, it’s important to prioritize your mental health. If you continue to struggle with your mental health, contact Lifeworks today to learn how we can help.