Given the fact that a pandemic could prevent us from eating, working, and doing everything else we did before, it’s important to make sure we take care of ourselves while the world is in upheaval. One way to do this is by living a happier life. In addition to taking care of yourself, you should be prepared for the potential impact on the mental health of other members of your family or community. In fact, if you can’t cope with the stress of a potential pandemic, you may end up harming others. Here are some tips to maintain your mental health during these times.
Media fast
Media fasts are an excellent way to decompress, but they can also be helpful for other reasons. You’ve probably heard the term “media fast” before. It refers to the idea that during the course of a day, we spend a lot of time doing things like watching television and scrolling through digital feeds. The goal of a media fast is to take a break from those activities and shift your attention back into the present moment — perhaps by starting a journal or taking up meditation — for an hour at a time.
Try to remain healthy
Take care of your physical health. This includes getting enough sleep and eating well-balanced meals. If you’re depressed, it’s easy to forget these things, but they’re important for everyone’s mental health. As far as exercise goes, try to get at least 30 minutes of activity each day that doesn’t involve sitting down (exercise bikes are ideal). It’s also good to exercise when you aren’t mentally exhausted since this will help your body recover faster.
Get support
Get support from other people. Even if you don’t know someone personally, there are groups available for people dealing with similar problems. If the group isn’t specific enough to address your issue directly, take part in one that has an emergency hotline number on hand so you can talk with someone about what’s going on without worrying about personal information getting out.
