How To Manage Your Mental Health During Self-Isolation

5 Simple Steps to Managing Your Mental Health During Self-Isolation

As the COVID-19 pandemic sparks drastic changes in our lives, we are being challenged to improve our coping strategies in order to weather this global storm. Businesses are forced to change their ways of working, restricting non-essential workers to work from home. Countries are banning travel and millions are being forced to stay indoors and self-isolate. It almost seems like something out of a movie but it’s real and the mental impact is even realer. So here are 5 simple and effective ways to improve our mental resilience during this crisis.

Limit Your News Intake

Sure it’s important to stay in the know during unfamiliar times such as these, however information overload can become toxic. A constant flow of pandemic related news can easily result in increased anxiety and stress. The good thing is that you can opt-out. Turn off the news, log out of Twitter, leave that Whatsapp Group. Actively manage the time you spend in spaces that are saturated with news that negatively impacts your mental health. This makes a world of difference in regaining and maintaining your peace of mind.

Manage your thoughts

Chances are that this period has given you more time on your hands. Often times we fill these extra moments with our wondering thoughts. What you don’t want to do however is spend countless hours pondering your life and current situation. You may end up feeling disappointed, anxious or even upset at the circumstances you’ve found yourself in while trying to maneuver this crisis. Don’t get stuck in your head and the whirlwind of negativity. Instead, stay calm and remember that we are all doing the best we can to survive this period. Practice the patience you more freely extend to others and be kind to yourself.

Don’t sit in-front of your computer all day — vary your activities

A lot of us are working from home. This could mean that you’re spending an extended period of time staring at a digital screen such as your computer or cell-phone. This raises a few concerns such as:

• extended exposure to blue light from devices which can be disruptive to our sleep and overall wellbeing
• improper sitting posture while using laptop, which can affect our physical health
• sitting for an extended period of time which does no good for our body and mind

To combat these concerns incorporate activities which move you away from your device and encourage physical activity. These can include simple activities such as gardening, writing on physical paper, reading, doing some light exercise, cooking or doing a fun home DIY project. The list is endless. Here’s a full body workout from Express Fitness to get you off your bum and having some fun.

Make time for ‘Micro-lifts’

One of the common hiccups of self-isolation is that we often skip the activities that gave us an emotional lift before the pandemic. For example, on your way to work you may have listened to your favourite album and chatted with a friend. Or you would eat breakfast and joke around with your favourite colleague before the start of the day. As simple as they are, these activities help to add small doses of energy and fun to your day. While in self-isolation we may not be able to do some of these activities but we can replace them with doable ones. Sit and create a list of simple activities that you can do at home that will help to give you a small lift daily.

Maintain a Healthy Diet (as best as you can)

Spending an increased amount of time at home with limited access to outside restaurants will drive you to do one of two things: cook or eat junk. Plus, overtime even the best of cooks get tired of the kitchen and resort to not so healthy options. Yet, your mental health is greatly affected by your diet. The more junk you eat the less your body and mind will be able to properly function. So do your best to eat well. If you don’t know how to cook fancy meals, you can always make simple meals with canned food. These also allow for versatility so you don’t get bored too quickly. Here’s a delicious Corned Beef Past Recipe from Grace Foods to get you started.

Practice these 5 tips and you’ll be well on your way to weathering this storm with your mental health in check.

Comment below with your tips and share this post with a friend who might benefit from this information. We could all use the extra support.

Remember there’s no health without mental health.

Written by Kimberly Leckie on April 26, 2020

Kimberly Leckie is a Mental Health Advocate and owner of Candid Convos with Kim. A Podcast and Blog initiative dedicated to educating the masses on mental health and battling the stigma of mental illness. Explore more at www.Kimberlylleckie.com.