Ways to Boost Your Mental Health Post-Covid
The 2020-21 coronavirus pandemic has left many people with ongoing mental health problems. With sustained lockdowns, social distancing, work-at-home measures, and the threat of the virus ever-looming, people young and old have begun to experience depression, anxiety, and other issues. While the arrival of vaccines and the opening of public services is exciting for some, others are finding it difficult to cope mentally and emotionally. If you are struggling with your mental health in the post-covid period, the tips below can help.
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Start Your Day Positively:
If you haven’t started a daily or weekly schedule for yourself, now is a good time to start. By creating structure in your life, you can feel more in control. One of the best places to start when it comes to a routine is to start your day on a positive note. Whether it’s a short meditation, some light stretching, or establishing a few positive goals for the day, what you do each morning can have huge effects on your mental state later on.
Allow Yourself to Be Slow:
If the past year has caused you to experience increased social anxiety or depression, it’s important that you allow yourself to go slowly. In other words, don’t cram too many things into your social calendar just because the bars and restaurants are now open. Going slowly also means taking the pressure off yourself to achieve x, y, and z in a set period. If you’re feeling fragile emotionally and mentally, give yourself the gift of time and take as long as you need. Don’t let anyone rush you into regular life just because they’re doing it.
Stay Focused on the Positive:
It’s no secret that the past year has been full of sad news stories. Even as we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, it can be tempting to focus on all the negativity in the world. However, for the sake of your mental health, it’s important to redirect your attention to positive things. Even if it requires turning off social media, it’s vital that you find ways to focus on what’s going well in your life. Don’t allow yourself to fall into a negative spiral by reading depressing stories. Your thoughts dictate your emotions, so keep them on positive things as much as you can.
Set Goals:
Setting goals is a great way to get yourself out of a depressive slump. Not only can goals keep you moving forward, but they can push you out of your comfort zone. Whatever you do, make sure your goals are realistic and are designed to make you feel good. For example, if mental health has been a big issue, one of your goals could be to speak to someone or seek help from the likes of igniteteentreatment.com. Additionally, you could set yourself a series of small goals for life events such as travel, work, socializing, personal development, and more.
Make Time for Diet, Sleep & Exercise:
This tip is a no-brainer, but it’s worth repeating. Making time to eat well, get plenty of rest, and exercise regularly is incredibly important for mental health. The amount of sleep we get and the foods we eat can have a big impact on our mood and hormone production. Exercise is also known to positively impact depression by boosting endorphins. So, try where possible to cut out the junk food, go to bed at the same time every night, and get out for some moderate exercise. Your mind and body will thank you for it!
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