Social distancing is difficult for everyone’s mental health. How can we try to follow these guidelines in a healthy way?
Establish a Daily Routine
Many people are now spending the majority of their time at home, which can be harmful to physical and mental health. During this time, it’s best to try and stay disciplined.
Making a plan week by week or day by day may help provide structure and purpose. For example, eat at the same times each day, keep your workouts consistent, and designate time to unwind.
Get Quality Sleep
Quality sleep is vital to keep yourself healthy, both physically and mentally, especially during stressful or uncertain times. Of course, right now may be a challenging time to fall asleep. Here are a few tips if you are struggling:
- Avoid coffee and tea in the late afternoon/evening
- Take a bath
- Use blackout curtains
- Listen to gentle music or deep breathing exercises
- Take care of yourself by doing anything that makes you happy
Sometimes it feels like everything is out of our control. Added stress can chip away at everything from our sleep to our mood and energy levels. Try to focus on things that you can control. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, good sources of proteins, and healthy fats.
Keep in Touch
Now more than ever, we could use support from loved ones. Thankfully, we can connect with others using smart technology. Staying connected is important for staying healthy. Use your devices to your advantage by hosting video chats with friends, doing live group workouts online, or calling your friends and family members on the phone.
Set Daily Goals
A daily goal will give you more purpose and a sense of achievement. Think about things you have been putting off or couldn’t do because of other obligations and set out to accomplish them. Now is the perfect time to clean out that closet, re-organize your space, or dive into some good, dusty books!
You Aren’t Alone
Social distancing is one measure we all can take to help slow the spread of COVID-19, but it isn’t easy. Fortunately, none of us are alone in this. By keeping the above tips in mind, we can all get through this together.