Take Care of Your Mental Health- Tips To Help You Through Lockdown

As we are amid a national pause to slow and prevent the spread of Covid-19 on our island, we can’t forget to look out for our own health, specifically our mental health.

Since the first appearance of Covid-19 in the world, our mental well-being has been under a constant barrage of assaults from the uncertainty of the Covid-19 situation. This encompasses the economic challenges, restricted movement and isolation. There’s also the added pressure of being hypervigilant about our own physical health wherever we go, with what we touch, in wearing our mask and even visiting our loved ones. In spite of all those things, we need to maintain a level of normalcy in our routine, family and jobs.

It is a lot to handle.

To help manage your mental health, here are some tips for coping while you are at home:

When you wake up, take a bath/shower and dress for the day - this refreshes your body and prepares your mind for a new day.
Take at least 10 minutes for self-reflection at the start of the day– To do this, find a quiet space for you to explore your feelings, goals or simply take a break from worrying about the things that are stressing you out.
Set boundaries between your personal and work life if you are working from home, this can be done by creating a designated area to work within your home and by having set office hours - this will help to maintain a good professional/personal balance within your life.
Don’t stay cooped up in the house, take walks around your neighborhood when you can, while maintaining social distancing practices from others.
While you may be physically isolated from others, do not isolate emotionally from your friends and family. Stay connected with your loved ones through regular check-ins and light, positive conversations.
Avoid overindulging on unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks while at home.
Be aware of the habits you develop during this time, you can create good habits by limiting tv time, adding exercise, maintaining a tidy environment, proper diet and wholesome occupation during lockdown.
Deliberately set aside time to disconnect from the news and social media to give yourself a break from the constant onslaught of information.
Staying together with family or roommates for several days can be stressful. Remember that everyone manages stress differently and one should communicate what affects you in a calm manner, while being considerate of their feelings.
Don’t hesitate to change up your daily schedule by exploring new activities or potential hobbies to keep your mind engaged and challenged.
While at home you can set a goal to tackle projects around the house which you may not have had time to complete previously- this can help you to feel productive within your personal life and help to occupy your time.
Stay motivated by utilizing the time to develop or refresh your professional skills with online courses, video tutorials or webinars.

Overall, it’s important to bear in mind that a lockdown is a temporary state. Keeping occupied, staying positive and hopeful throughout this experience will contribute to maintaining your mental wellbeing.

Stay safe!