How to maintain mental peace amidst the Coronavirus outbreak
Ever since Coronavirus broke out, people have been trying their best to maintain self-isolation and social distancing guidelines. Even a normal thing can increase the risk of contamination.
Being stuck indoors can be pretty harmful because you get stuck with your thoughts. Since there is not much to do, it is very typical for you to keep thinking. Studies have shown that people with mental health disorders are having a hard time surviving quarantine.
Every country has been trying its best to raise mental health awareness among people. As much as one needs to maintain physical health, one also needs to focus on physical health to keep calm. It is essential to focus on your overall well-being.
If you are going through a tough time, know that there are several ways you can try to pull yourself out of the stress. This is especially applicable to you if you are prone to frequent anxiety attacks.
So, how do I curb this feeling?
It is not very hard to curb down the feeling. If you have been having a hard time, you need to focus on yourself. Some of the prominent tips that can help you stay focused and curb down the feeling include
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Prepare a routine
The first thing you need to do to maintain your mental peace is to prepare a routine. Most of the employees are not accustomed to working from home. If you plan a pattern, it will be easier for you to stay focused and boost productivity. However, make sure to maintain a proper balance between work and home chores.
You may want to work during the night, but that's not the right thing to do. When working from home, you need to prepare yourself in the same manner as you prepare yourself for work. You don't necessarily need to put on your office clothes, but you can always try it.
One of the best things to do is put up a work-from-home corner away from social media and TV. Make sure not to use social media during this period.
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Take breaks from social media.
Social media may be the best place to find fun, but it is also one of the most toxic places. Since there's a lot of news surfacing in social media now, you are bound to read them and get stressed because most of it is negative.
So, it is better to take a break from your TV screens and social media for a specific time during the day. With each passing day, there will always be new bad news, either about a calamity or an increasing number of cases.
Hence, proper breaks from time to time help to maintain your sanity. Even if you are watching the news, you need to ensure that you are getting the information from reliable sources such as CDC, American Medical Association, or more. Do not believe anything blindly that appears on your social media feed. For your mental peace, it is always suggested to verify the authenticity of the news.
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Keep going
During these times of crisis, it is essential to keep yourself occupied. Nothing is better than to keep going. Since you have a lot of time in your hands, you need to ensure that you practice healthy mental hygiene.
If you are suffering from depression, you need to look for ways to keep yourself motivated and get out of the bed. If you do not want to work, you can indulge yourself in minor household chores.
Behavioral activation, as per research, is considered to be one of the best ways to keep yourself motivated. Rather than sticking to a routine, you can keep yourself motivated and exercise regularly.
The gyms are closed due to lockdown, so you can practice working out in your home itself. However, make sure that you maintain distance and practice yoga or light intensity at home itself. Regular online sessions with your personal trainer can be one of the best ways to stay motivated to exercise.
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Be kind to yourself
There is nothing better than being kind to yourself. Several types of research conducted over the years have shown the importance of self-compassion to overcome the challenges of emotional trauma.
Since you are in self-isolation, you need to be kind to yourself rather than caring about what people think about you. It is time that you break the bubble and overcome the hardships. However, do not compromise on these by neglecting your mental health.
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Practice mindfulness and yoga
Amidst the chaos, we often forget the importance of loving ourselves. In such times, it is essential to practice mindfulness techniques such as meditation, yoga, and more. Rather than feeling lost and how you need to cope with the future, you need to give yourself time.
This is the best time to maintain emotional reactions. You may prefer reading different articles, books, or watching videos to help you manage the stress. Also, many people offer free guidance to practice mindfulness.
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Stay Connected
While social media can be toxic, it is also the only way to stay connected to your loved ones. This is the best benefit of social media as it helps you stay connected during the self-isolation period.
You may want to get in touch with people you've lost connection with for a long time. You can socialize via calls, mostly friends and families who are not really comfortable with technology developments.
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Have a proper sleep schedule
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There's nothing better than a proper sleep schedule. If you do not sleep properly, even during the lockdown period, it can increase the frequency of anxiety attacks.
There are several channels of YouTube that provide you a guide to meditation. Guided meditation can help sleep. Don't set that as the goal because if you don't achieve the goal, you will have more anxieties. Meditation should be a way to relax your body.
The lockdown period is exceptionally challenging, but it is also when you can come out of it stronger. Taking care of your mental health is very important during times of crisis so that you can come out of it better and stronger.