5 Easy Ways to Maintain Mental Health During COVID

As the world nears the end of the year, the seemingly never-ending COVID-19 pandemic continues. It is important to stay safe and take proper public health precautions during the pandemic.

However, we also need to remember how to maintain mental health as well. If you struggle from a lack of peace of mind, here are five easy ways to maintain mental health during COVID.

1. Exercise Helps With Stress Reduction

You may desire stress reduction because of your work from home situation. Or maybe you are tired of staying in the same place for so long.

Either way, exercise helps with stress reduction. It combats lethargy and depression, and you can develop a routine for exercise to keep yourself in check.

Scientists recommend at least twenty minutes of physical exercise every day. This can be a walk, running, cycling, or anything else that gets your body moving.

2. Stay Connected, But Set Social Media Limits

Constant bombarding by news of the COVID-19 pandemic can induce stress. So can seeing what others share about their lives in quarantine.

It’s okay to keep in touch through social media, but you can set limits too.

Staying connected is important as we isolate to limit our risk of infection. Staying connected with loved ones and friends through digital platforms is the best way to get your dose of social interaction and stay safe while doing so.

3. Create a “Normal” Schedule

While these times are anything but normal, some semblance of a normal schedule may bring you peace of mind. If you’re working, you definitely need a schedule that resembles normal to help keep you on track.

Staying healthy includes your mental health. By creating a schedule, you can ensure you plan out your workday, your leisure time, and more. While a pandemic is far from normal, your mental health will thank you for having a schedule to help put you at ease.

Use this pay stub example to help you manage work from home too.

4. Beyond Exercise: Food and Mindfulness

The COVID-19 pandemic is making everyone feel out of control. We turn to comforts when we feel stressed, and food is no exception.

Do not shame yourself if you turn to your favorite comfort food, even if it’s not the healthiest. It is a normal reaction. Try to sprinkle in nutritious food that can help boost your immune system in addition to your comfort food.

Mindfulness also goes a long way. Do you like to write in a journal or meditate? These actions can also help alleviate stress.

5. Grief Is Normal

You are allowed to grieve. Your life, like everyone else’s, has been upended to something you never expected.

While you are adamant about keeping yourself and others safe, that doesn’t mean you need to ignore your feelings of grief. Take the time you need to process these pandemic feelings.

Maintain Mental Health During COVID-19

These are only five of many ways to help maintain mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pick and choose what works for you!

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