Quarantine is an easy way to get pulled back into old bad habits. Not exercising, eating badly and spending time on social media more often are all bad habits that we tend to lean towards during lockdown. Our physical and mental health needs a lot of support and focus during these tough times.
There are many benefits to having positive mental health like less stress and anxiety, boosted self-esteem and better relationships. Mental health can be a difficult topic to talk about. But it is extremely important to manage your mental health. There are many ways to maintain good mental health including self reflection on how you are feeling. Sometimes you need to take a break from everything you are doing and focus only on yourself. Writing down and expressing your moods greatly affects your mental well-being.
“I have been trying to journal almost every day during quarantine,” says Ms. Eckert, an English teacher at San Mateo High School.
Journalism is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety. Practicing mindful exercises is very beneficial, as it helps with concentration and stress. Also, staying in touch with friends and family can be difficult during these times but doing so has a strong positive impact on our mental health. Even speaking to friends and family over the phone can be a mental boost. Make time for your loved ones who make you happy in life, and surround yourself with people who don’t bring you down.
Try and keep busy in life, it can be hard to stay motivated and productive but you really need to find what’s best for you. It is a perfect time to try new things, go read that book or go find new hobbies. Getting enough sleep is also a big factor in your mental health, so try and focus on maintaining a regular bedtime and waking up at a reasonable hour.
Not only is your mental health extremely important to focus on but also your physical health as well. Since gyms are closed, it is harder to exercise, but that isn’t an excuse to slack off. Go on hikes, runs or lift weights. These are easy activities that you can do without a gym.
Find a daily routine. This will help you stay motivated and busy. You can try yoga, as yoga is excellent for your body and mind. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet can be tough during this lockdown, especially when your kitchen is so accessible. Eating healthy doesn’t necessarily mean eating less. You really need to research the best plan for yourself. Staying hydrated is very important for your physical health because physical activities can feel much more difficult if you are dehydrated.
So, try and focus on your mental and physical health during these rough times in the pandemic. A year from now you are going to look back and think “Why didn’t I start then?”, so start taking care of yourself now for the better of your future.