Are you experiencing a lot of stress from forced self-isolation and the need to switch to distance learning suddenly? “Try to maintain social contact and empathy,” says clinical psychologist Desiree Dickerson.
Coping with isolation in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly a challenge. But there are ways that can have a beneficial effect on your well-being. In this article, you will find some tips that emerged from discussions with the academic community and students about the new pandemic.
How To Ensure Good Mental Health During Pandemic?
Along with physical health, the COVID-19 pandemic has largely affected the mental well-being of people. Isolation, quarantine, vaccination, social distancing- all these largely put human brains under stress. But how can one ensure good mental health during this pandemic? Let’s find out:
1. Work Through Your Expectations
This is unlikely to be the vacation you’ve been dreaming of for a long time. The assumption that a quarantine period can serve as unprecedented productivity implies that we should raise the bar, not lower it. Don’t underestimate the cognitive and emotional burden this pandemic carries on its own, or its impact on your productivity, at least in the short term.
Concentration problems, low motivation, and being in limbo are the first things to expect. Adaptation will take time. Don’t ask too much of yourself. As we embrace the new rhythm of working remotely and living in isolation, we need to be realistic about our goals, both for ourselves and for the other people we are responsible for. By working through your expectations, you can really have peace of mind.
2. Try To Abandon Bad Habits
You really need to abandon bad habits, such as smoking and scolding yourself, during this pandemic. Such habits will further deteriorate your mental well-being, so quit them or replace them with healthy alternatives. For example, smokers can switch to vape, i.e., lesser harmful to health as compared to cigarettes.
You can order vape online and try different nicotine-free flavors at home. As a beginner, do not be afraid of trying
cheap E liquid because their quality is not compromised. So without worrying, get vape today and stay away from cigarettes to save yourself from the harm of tobacco.
3. Try To Manage Your Stress
Try to build a solid foundation for your mental health and well-being by prioritizing and optimizing your sleep and wake schedule. And be sure to practice good sleep hygiene (for example, avoid blue-dominated lighting before bed).
Eat a balanced and varied diet: keep in mind that the situation can lead you to excessive alcohol consumption or other breakdowns to cope with stress. This is an understandable psychological defense mechanism, which, however, has the potential to be harmful in the long term.
Exercise more often as it can reduce stress levels, help you better manage your emotions, and improve your sleep. By following these three important points, it will become easier to manage stress and ultimately safeguard mental health.
4. Know Your Red Flags
One way to manage stress is to identify key thoughts or physical sensations, which tend to be triggers that contribute to stress or feelings of depression. Our thoughts (“Why can’t I concentrate?”), feelings (frustration, anxiety, and sadness), physical sensations (tension, indigestion, tremors), and actions (such as being forced to check the latest statistics on COVID-19) fuel and reinforce negative emotions.
Resolve one of the elements of such a vicious circle, for example, by actively reducing physical symptoms through breathing techniques. You need to know your red flags and calm yourself down timely.
5. Deal With Uncertainty
Take each day as it is and focus on what you can control. Mindfulness and meditation practices can be great tools. We are probably all under pressure right now, but this is what will test the quality of mental health strategies and practices. So deal with the uncertainty and live in the present. Forget about the past as well as the future by taking optimal measures for mental well-being.
6. Routine Is Your New Friend
A predictable daily routine can help you cope with anxiety and can help you adapt more quickly to your current reality. Make a clear distinction between working and non-working hours, ideally both in the physical sense (separate workspace) and in your head.
Find something that is not related to your job or the virus and brings you joy. Working in short bursts with clear breaks will help you keep your thoughts clear and let you enjoy your work.
7. Be Compassionate
There are many things we can’t control right now, but the way we deal with ourselves during these difficult times can either provide a powerful buffer to cope with current difficult circumstances or further contribute to the development of anxiety and stress.
Overwhelmed moments often come along with hard thoughts such as “I can’t do this,” but know that such times help to build our character. So be compassionate with yourself and others; you must be able to ask for help or allow others to turn to you for help.
8. Maintain Your Social Connections
Even the most withdrawn of us need some sense of connection with others to maintain mental and even physical health. Many workgroups have created virtual forums where you can contribute or just sit back and enjoy the chat.
Some work teams have banded together and created virtual coffee groups, online book clubs, and open online workspaces where you can work in the (virtual) presence of others. We are socially isolated, but we don’t need to feel lonely. Help those who may be particularly isolated in this situation; this will really improve your mental well-being.
Take Away
We mentioned some amazing ways, from the experience of people, which can really help you maintain good mental health during this pandemic. So by following the above guidelines, try to be easy on yourself and be compassionate towards others to ensure good health.
