The COVID-19 pandemic and current attacks on Ukraine have left the global population with little energy remaining to keep thinking positively. Lockdown, isolation, social distancing, and continued threats of war and attacks have made their way into our everyday lives, and not all of us have been able to cope.
We are living through some of the most challenging times, and sometimes, our mental health takes a backseat as we try and navigate everything that gets thrown our way. If you are struggling to keep your head above water, here are five things for you to do to look after your mental health and welling:
Keep Clean
A simple technique for improving your mood and helping to lift your spirits in times of distress is to keep clean. Personal hygiene is often the first thing that gets neglected when someone is in a slump, but there is real power in a shower.
No matter how awful you feel, challenge yourself to get out of bed and take a shower. Getting clean and dressed will help you feel normal and in control, and that is the first step to looking after your mental health.
Stick To A Routine
As much as the world seems like the most uninviting place right now, you have to stick to a set routine. Routines help restore a sense of normalcy to someone’s world – which we could all use right about now.
Routines also bring a sense of purpose to your days, even if it’s just talking about what you want to do once life is back to normal.
Outpatient Programs
Intensive outpatient programs are excellent treatment options for teaching someone how to manage stress, feelings of depression, as well as crippling anxiety in these trying times. Most of these treatment plans were changed to a virtual IOP during COVID, and patients have had increasingly promising results from their sessions.
The pandemic has accelerated telehealth to deliver virtual persons to preserve the integrity of the intensive outpatient program and the patient’s progress using this treatment option.
Exercise
Everyone knows that exercise makes you feel better, but many people forget this when they are feeling down. It is hard to stay motivated but with the summer months just around the corner, now is the best time to dust off your exercise equipment.
Even just a brisk walk around the block will do wonders for your mental health and your mood, thanks to the tiny little dopamine chemicals that flow freely after exercising.
Set Boundaries
Scrolling through social media and other media outlets can make it hard to get away from negative information and sensationalized news stories. Setting boundaries can make it easier to cope mentally during times of uncertainty.
You don’t have to stop using your social media cold turkey, just limit your consumption and turn your notifications off. Learn to look for other sources of joy, there is still a reason to keep hope alive. With a resilient spirit and a positive attitude, there is so much that can be achieved in this world.
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