Looking After Your Mental Health in the Covid-19 Crisis

Covid-19 is the pandemic that has gripped the world and has had many consequences on our daily life, one of the biggest ones being the impact it has on our mental health. A lot of people don’t realise that mental health is a spectrum, just like physical health, and everyone needs to look after their mental health regardless of whether you have a diagnosed illness or not. Although national lockdown is over for most people, there are still restrictions in place for most countries, and life has changed as we know it. All of this will inevitably affect your mental health in some way as such rapid change in our lifestyles will take a while to adjust to. This blog post will talk about some of the best ways I have found to maintain my wellbeing. 

Hobbies

Finding something to occupy your time while in lockdown or isolating is so important - it keeps you productive and motivated, and can really help take your mind off all the other issues in the world right now. Whether it is schoolwork if you are isolating from school or simply learning a new skill, trying to utilise this time for the better will definitely put a positive spin on your day. There are so many new Covid-frinedly classes for things from cooking to fitness that are online, or perhaps follow some YouTube videos - the possibilities are endless! Try and appreciate the extra time you have been given away from your normal schedule. It's never too late to try something new!

Meeting your friends

Loneliness is perhaps one of the biggest issues with this pandemic - because of its contagiousness, meeting people has dramatically reduced. Humans are, by nature, social animals, and it is so important to keep in touch with friends or family during this time. However, you MUST follow government guidelines on the amount of people you meet and where. If you are isolating, try some new ways of having fun - perhaps a group video call with your family or a phone call to your best friend! Technology and social media have proved so vital in this effort, so make sure that you utilise its full potential. Loneliness can hit anyone so make sure that you also keep tabs on your friends and family. 

Get outside and active (if you can)

Being outside in nature has a way of making everything feel a bit better. If you are not isolating and are able to leave your house, getting outside is a sure-fire way to boost your spirits. Exercise always helps too, but if you can’t do any exercise, even a short stroll or sitting in your local park can help so much. If you are able to do exercise, I would highly recommend it - it is proven to dramatically improve your mood and releases those endorphins which makes everything a bit more manageable. Exercise does not need to be difficult and complicated; you don’t need a 20-step fitness routine like the fitness influencers you may see online, it can be as simple as a short jog or a bike ride around your local neighbourhood. 

Talk to someone

This is by far the most important point - you may be tempted to keep all those negative feelings bottled up inside yourself, but this is the absolute worst thing you can do. This pandemic will not be solved overnight and we still have a long way to go, which means you need to find a more sustainable way to deal with your emotions in the long term. Talk to someone, anyone, whether it is a friend, family member, teacher or mental health professional. Sharing the burden and allowing someone to help you is the best thing you can do for yourself. Remember to give yourself breaks and not be too hard on yourself - take an evening off and focus on yourself once in a while. In this situation, we need to be strong both mentally and physically to combat this virus and its repercussions, so taking care of yourself is the utmost priority. Humans have an amazing ability to adapt to situations, so believe in yourself and your strength to cope!