The coronavirus has sparked an increased interest in caring for your physical and mental health. Though there’s no surefire way to ensure you won’t contract the virus, the belief is that at the very least, having a strong immune system can reduce the risks and will help you win the battle should you get it. So, many people have been doing everything they can to eat better and exercise.
Taking care of your physical health is certainly a top priority, but what must not be overlooked during this pandemic is your mental health. From the fear of contracting the virus to the stress of adjusting to the “new normal”, these uncertain times are also emotionally draining. Therefore, it is equally important to prioritize your mental health during the pandemic.
Meditate
Between the negative information and news spiraling around the media and the craziness going on in your personal/professional life, your mind is all over the place. Your emotions vary from restless and frustrated to fearful and anxious.
You can help to refocus and calm your mind through meditation. Whenever you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or unable to concentrate, find a quiet place to sit for at least 15 minutes. While you’re there, practice taking deep breaths in and out only focusing on your breathing.
Journal
Keeping a journal during the pandemic could prove to be beneficial in improving your emotional wellbeing. Writing in a journal on a regular basis allows you to safely vent about your problems, concerns, and priorities.
Reviewing your journal periodically can also be essential in helping you to evaluate your emotions, identify mental health symptoms or negative habits, pinpoint triggers, and relive victories or small challenges you overcome.
Socialize Daily
The coronavirus pandemic has caused many to feel depressed. Being isolated from friends, family, co-workers, and others you interact with on a daily basis can be difficult to adjust to. You start to feel lonely and even depressed. As Nexus Recovery’s Mental Health Guide for Social Isolation points out, this is especially true if you’re struggling or on a recovery journey with drugs and alcohol.
It is still necessary to practice social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t connect with the outside world. Pick up the phone and call an old friend, send a funny or loving text to a distant relative, comment on the status of your co-worker on social media, or plan some fun meetups using video chat.
Get Outside
At this point, most of the country has been sheltering in place for a little more than two months. Again, this is a necessary measure the government suggested to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but it doesn’t mean you’re trapped in your house like a prisoner.
You can venture onto your back porch, lounge around in your backyard, take a walk through your neighborhood, ride bikes through a nearby park, or take a joyride with the windows down. The fresh air and sunlight aid your mind and body by boosting your immune system and your mood.
Do Something Positive and Constructive
To combat all the negativity going on right now, it’s important to find positive and constructive things to focus your mind on. Each day, think of something you can do to improve your life or the life of someone else and set out to accomplish it.
Start a side hustle or business, donate to a charity or cause, support a local business by making a purchase, complete a home improvement project, sign up for an online course, or send a care package to a loved one who’s been struggling. Not only does this give you something positive to focus on, but it makes you feel good from the inside out.
Taking the appropriate steps to look after your physical health, especially during the coronavirus pandemic is the right thing to do. The healthier you are the better position you’re in to outlive this virus.
Along with taking care of your body, however, don’t forget your mind. As the past few months have been nothing short of emotionally taxing, you want to make sure that you’re doing everything in your power to stay balanced.
We ask that every contributor and expert answer the Identity “Get All A’s” questions in keeping with our theme.
Their answers can be random and in the moment or they can be aligned with the current article they have written.
In that way, and as a team, we hope to encourage and motivate each other, thus inspiring you to Get All A’s.
1. What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally? Additionally, what are you still working on accepting? Now, we’re talking about resignation, rather stepping into, embraced, and owned.
We’ve accepted all of your stories, tips, and expertise over the years. We accept all that comes with the challenges of running an online magazine.
2. What have you learned to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally? On the other hand OR in contrast, are there elements of who you are that you’re still working on appreciating?
We appreciate all of our readers, writers, and collaborators. Without all of you, we wouldn’t exist today. Thank YOU!
3. What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? Tell us not only what makes YOU most proud but also share the goals and dreams that you still have.
We are proud of Identity Magazine and the opportunity to support so many writers, authors, business owners, moms—WOMEN. Let’s all continue to Get All A’s.
