How to avoid the mental toll of Covid-19: advice and tips
The Covid-19 pandemic impacted the whole world in ways most of us wouldn’t have begun to imagine a few short years ago. As many people were and continue to be overwhelmed with the sudden change to their lifestyles, anxiety and depression can descend, which may lead to mental health disorders.
Covid-19 undeniably takes a toll on our physical and mental health. But there are ways to avoid the mental toll. Here are some of our tips and advice.
Change your mindset
If you keep thinking negatively about everything that’s going on, your mind is framed that way, and this can eventually affect your mental health. So, change your mindset and try some positive thinking!
Things are already so much better than they were in 2020 and 2021. So, instead of dwelling on how bad the ongoing situation with Covid is, consider listing the things you are thankful for. Perhaps, being healthy is a great starting point for your list.
Follow your own pace
Covid restrictions have pretty much all been lifted, so it’s tempting to get back to the pre-Covid normal. But keep in mind that the virus is still alive and thriving in our communities, so you still need to take precautions. This means masking up when you’re in a crowd (particularly if you have immune system issues that can result in Covid hitting you hard), keeping up the social distancing and remembering your hand hygiene.
Maintain a routine
Keeping your day-to-day schedule helps you maintain good mental health. Try to stick to consistent times for eating, showering, working (or studying), and exercising. Keeping your routine as regular as possible will make you feel more in control, giving your self-confidence the boost it needs.
Keep yourself busy
Having healthy distractions will leave you no room to overthink, helping you avoid feeling anxious or depressed over things you cannot control. Instead, do the things and activities you enjoy and love.
Read your favourite novel, make some arts and crafts, play games, whip up some recipes, or clean out that storeroom or closet you’ve been planning to do all winter. Doing things that bring positive results will keep your mental health in good condition.
Try not to avoid everything
It may seem that the easiest way to side-step mental stress is to avoid everything that makes you feel anxious, but this is only a good short-term option.
In the long run, facing your fears will be much harder. So, set plans that you can manage and achieve. For example, begin with meeting only your closest friends or relatives and slowly build yourself up from there. It will help if you talk to them so they can support you in overcoming your anxieties.
Don’t dwell on the future or past
With the devastating impact of Covid still amongst us, it’s easy to brood about what happened in the past and what may happen in the future. But instead of dwelling on those thoughts, focus on the present.
Relax your mind and avoid thinking about “what if’s” and “what could’s”. Being mindful only of the good things at present is beneficial for your mental health. Go outside and enjoy nature to help you focus only on the “now”.
Take care of yourself
The pandemic is an extraordinary crisis that means it’s vitally important to take care of not only your mental health but also your overall wellbeing. Getting plenty of sleep and eating healthy meals are proven stress management strategies.
Make sure you get vaccinated and have your Covid boosters if you haven’t yet, keep up the exercise, do some meditation, avoid self-medication, limit your alcohol intake, and see your doctor regularly for a routine check-up – these are just some of the ways to take care of yourself.
Get help if needed
Anxiety and depression won't go away on their own. And if ignored, the symptoms may worsen and even become mental health disorders. If you are already experiencing it, don't hesitate to get help.
Call a friend, a spiritual leader in your faith community, a close family member, or, more importantly, consult a mental health care professional. Be honest with what you're going through, so they can assess the best possible way to help you.
Be mentally [and financially] healthy
Overall, positive thoughts and self-care will keep you mentally healthy. We also know that when it comes to your health and well-being, the #1 rule of thumb is to invest in yourself. So if the pandemic has put you in a difficult financial situation where you're struggling with debt - now's the time to ease your financial anxiety and take back control of your finances. Invest in you - make life better and arrange a FREE no-obligation assessment with a debt specialists today. What have you got to lose but your debts!