Hot to maintain mental health and wellbeing during Covid-19

The Covid-19 outbreak might have been somewhat unexpected, but at the end of the day, it has completely uprooted our lives while also making it more difficult than ever to look after our mental health. Hopefully this short blog will give you some ideas and guidance on how to look after your mental and physical wellbeing during these restrictions.

Manage your Expectations

There’s a high chance that this is not going to be the relaxing experience that you have been dreaming of. You may think that now is the time for you to try and get everything done around the home but you do need to manage your expectations. You need to understand the emotional toll that this pandemic will bring. It will certainly have an impact on your productivity, and you may even find that you have a hard time concentrating. Other feelings include being in a state of distraction and having difficulty with your motivation. After all, you will be in isolation and you may even find that you have a hard time maintaining normality. This is completely understandable, so manage your expectations, and don’t set yourself up for failure by setting goals that are unrealistic.

Monitor your Stress Threshold

Try and lay a good foundation for your mental health and your overall wellbeing. It also helps to prioritise sleep where possible and for you to also try and maintain a routine. Be conscious that you may be tempted to lean on alcohol or even other indulgences to manage your stress, and where possible try to take the time to exercise. When you do, you will lower your stress and you will also be able to help yourself think about the bigger picture. If you are considerably worked up over the idea of the coronavirus or if where you live is in lockdown right now then take your one form of exercise a day and use it to your advantage. Don’t just walk around the block, instead, venture to a local greenspace and take the dog with you. Little things like this can help you to lower stress while also helping you to better your mental health.

Red Flags

If you know that you have physical sensations or key thoughts that contribute to your feelings of being stressed or overwhelmed, then you need to stop feeding these emotional spirals. Some thoughts may include you wondering why you can’t concentrate, and feelings may include frustration, sadness or worry. If you aren’t sure if you are experiencing physical sensations then think about things like jitters, an upset stomach or even tension. Compulsiveness may include checking the latest Covid-19 updates all the time. The more you can monitor these, the more likely you’ll be to try and support your overall health and wellbeing.

Routine

It’s essential that you focus on your routine as much as possible. Your routine is your friend and it will help you to manage your anxiety. It will also give you the chance to create clear distinctions between your work time and your non-work time. If you want to help yourself then try and find something to do that isn’t work or virus-related. Focus on things that bring you joy. Working in short bursts with clear and defined breaks will work wonders for your clarity of thought.

Complete a Course

Completing a course can give you a great deal of satisfaction and you may even find that you can come out with a much higher level of satisfaction as a result. If you have never given any thought to completing an online course before then it is always a good idea to contact a reputable online training company like us or Skills College UK. After all, you will be able to better your job prospects and you may even find a new vocation or industry that you really enjoy and decide to pursue a new career when the coronavirus is over.

Maintain your Connections

If you are an introvert then you may not feel the need to maintain your social connections, but at the end of the day, it’s vital for your mental and physical health. A lot of families are setting up group chats so that everyone can stay connected and chat with one another. Staff teams have also looked into virtual coffee groups and even book clubs too as well as virtual exercise sessions. Other things like co-working spaces where you can work in the presence of others are also being looked into. Even though social isolation is happening right now, you do not need to feel alone. Reach out to others who may feel isolated.

Stay in the Present

Another thing that you need to do is try and stay in the present. This will probably be a stressful time for you as well as others, so try and embrace positive mental health and also rely on others when you need to. If you make sure that you do this then there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t be able to get through this pandemic. Remember if you need to talk with someone then there are various professionals out there who can give you the help and guidance you need, and that you are certainly not alone in this very difficult situation.

Take up a New Hobby

Have you always wanted to learn a new language? Maybe you just want to try and explore the art of crocheting. Either way, now is the time for you to try and push yourself. After all, time is on your side, so take some for yourself and relax a little. It doesn’t matter whether you give it a go for five minutes or whether you do it for five hours because there are so many benefits and you can really help yourself to embrace what you have. It may also be worth trying to cook a meal with your family, as opposed to just cooking out of necessity. When you do, you will soon find that you are able to see the silver lining to this situation.

Of course, there are so many things that you can do to try and look after your mental health during this pandemic, and if you follow the above tips then there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to come out feeling refreshed and energised.

This short blog was written by one of our Mental Health Awareness course and Exercise Referral qualification tutors. We hope it was useful and that you enjoyed the read.

Stay safe everyone,
Fitness HQ team