It’s really quite amazing how in such a short period of time, a huge percentage of people on this planet have gone from never thinking about what quarantine means, to living it day-in, day-out. It’s something few of us have ever experienced, and as such it’s somewhat tricky to find the vocabulary to talk about quarantine, self-isolation and social distancing.
A lot of us will not want to talk about the impact it is having – while people lie in hospital beds, many without the appropriate equipment to properly treat them, it feels self-indulgent to talk about feeling stressed, anxious or depressed. It is, however, entirely natural to feel those things, and it’s important to look after your mental health during this period, whether you’re on lockdown, quarantining or any other Covid-19 measures. Below are some tips which you can do when you feel up to it, and will help you stay positive.
Keep in touch with friends and family
For many, even most of us, Friday night drinks are on hold for a while – and ideally, most of us won’t be going round to see friends either. It’s not fun to be distanced from friends, but it’s for a good reason, and it won’t be forever. In the meantime, keep connected by having Skype or Zoom hangouts with as many friends as possible. If you’d normally have them round for music, gossip or snacks, keep those elements of your socializing in place – you can even sync up a streamed movie and watch it “together” this way.
While chatting with friends, it’s fine to talk about the crisis, but don’t make it the main focus of conversation; this is a bad time, but it’s important to retain some normality so the badness doesn’t consume you.
Find ways to stay positive and relaxed
A good idea during critical times is to have a social media audit; if you are following accounts that sometimes share, or repeat, content that makes you angry, it may be time to unfollow. No-one could judge you for doing so. Additionally, try to find time to meditate or follow some simple yoga videos to help you chill. If you find that you’re quick to stress, then check out the likes of https://www.everydayoptimalcbd.com/ for CBD oil and other supplements that can help you stay upbeat. Also, follow a clean diet as much as possible: it’s hard to do when supermarkets are essentially rationing food, but it helps mentally to eat healthy food (especially if you build in the occasional treat day!).
Retain a routine
For most of us, the commute and the office routine has gone, and for some, the work has gone along with it. If you’re working from home, or have been furloughed or even laid off, then it can be tempting to let the daily routines slip – wearing the same clothes all day, in and out of bed, and even letting personal hygiene go. None of this is good for your mental state, though. Keep active, and keep getting dressed to go to work as refinery29.com suggests – even if “work” is at your kitchen table and even if it’s just watching something you enjoy on Netflix. Spend the commute time doing some exercise; aerobics in the garden are much more fun than 90 minutes in traffic!
At times during quarantine, you’re going to feel less than your best; that’s natural and nothing to feel ashamed about. By following the above tips, you’ll feel a lot better.
