Social distancing is EXTREMELY important during all of this coronavirus craziness, and although it is our responsibility, it is very hard to not be near our friends and family or be able to socialize.
We’re social creatures by nature, and all we want to do is be with each other when we feel stressed or anxious. Trust me, I’m right there with you. Here are some things I’ve been doing to help with my mental health:
To-Do Lists- I’m someone that likes a little structure in their life, and there’s nothing more satisfying than ticking off items once you’ve completed. It also can give you a sense of control during a time where it feels like we have none (even if that lists just consists of waking up, eating, watching Netflix, and bathing lol)
Keeping clean- whether it’s treating myself to a face mask and bubble math or filing my nails (bacteria can get stuck underneath nails that are super long) keeping clean is essential right now and relaxing!
Exercise/stretch/meditate- lately every morning I’ve been running to the ocean and around state parks (so thankful I live so close) but I’ve been LEAVING MY PHONE HOME- which is important right now. I feel free and not attached to anything when I do this, and I can’t express to you how this has helped me since all of this has started. There are also tons of online classes to take if you don’t like to run online for yoga HIIT, etc. I also love to mediate outside in the sun in my backyard. That vitamin D is soooo important right now.
Disconnect from social media- There’s an overload of information and fear being shared on social media right now, so instead of getting caught up in all of it, limit yourself to about 30 minutes a day. There’s nothing we can do besides stay safe and healthy, so why allow social media to make you feel even more anxious?
Facetime with friends and family- we need that social interaction, and although it’s not as great as seeing them in person, having someone to talk to, vent, and being able to visibly see them can really help your mood.
Cleaning your house and organizing- you’ve been putting off organizing that closet/garage/junk cabinet of yours for a while now, why not kill some time? I always feel so much more at ease when things are sorted out and tidy.
Reading- everyone is currently binging on Netflix or Hulu right now, but reading gives you another great outlet to escape from reality.
I hope some of these helped, and here is another website for additional idea! https://www.pih.org/article/10-mental-health-tips-coronavirus-social-distancing
We’re all in this together, don’t forget that! –Chelsea
