Take Care of Mental Health While at Home
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an emergency health crisis throughout the world. Keeping this in mind, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown starting from March 24. Considering its population of over 130 crore, lockdown in India is a vital step in containing COVID-19.
During this lockdown period, it is important to understand that along with taking care of our physical health, we should also put the same amount of effort in keeping our mental health in place. Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, fear, restlessness, boredom, etc., may arise as a result of continuously being cooped up at home. In such situation, we need to do everything in our capacity to keep a positive mindset and engage ourselves in productive/creative activities so as not to fall prey to negative thoughts.
How to take care of your mental health?
- Spend quality time with other members at home. If you live alone, stay in touch with family and friends via phone call, video call, texts, email, social media, etc. Use this time as an opportunity to bond with your loved ones.
- Keep yourself and your family updated on crucial COVID-19 news. However, a balance should be maintained between staying informed and over consumption of news.
- This lockdown period could be a perfect time to engage in productive and creative activities such as art and crafts, songwriting, cooking, gardening, learning a new language, etc. Do whatever motivates you.
- Practise yoga, meditation and other forms of freehand exercises to keep your mental and physical health in perfect harmony.
- Start a gratitude journal where you can list down one thing everyday which you are grateful for. The idea is to not lose sight of the little joyful moments in life even during turbulent times.
- Maintain a schedule to eat and sleep well on time.
- Stay hydrated and do not forget to take your daily dose of Vitamin D from the sun. You can do this by taking an early morning stroll in your terrace or sipping your morning tea while seated in your sunny verandah.
- Do not believe everything available on social media on COVID-19 without checking its authenticity from government websites. Do not let unnecessary stress get to you just because someone on social media posted about it.
- People who are working from home during this time should maintain a proper schedule dividing time between work, meals and rest.
- As we fight COVID-19 by staying indoors, practising social distancing and washing hands, let us not lose hope and remember that this too, shall pass.
