Managing Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Over the past few months, our world has changed drastically. Since many of our conversations have revolved around staying physically safe and healthy, mental health awareness has been put on the back burner at a time when it should be brought to the forefront. This pandemic is a recipe for stress and anxiety. There are a ton of unanswered questions about the virus itself. We are being bombarded with conflicting information, and none of us are certain about when our lives will return to normal. When we don’t have adequate knowledge about a stressful situation and don’t have the tools to deal with it, it is natural for our stress levels to rise.

If you feel that you are struggling more than usual with mental health right now, you are not alone. Although we are all feeling frustrated and scared right now, we aren’t helpless. While some facets of our lives have been put on hold, we can make use of this free time by prioritizing our mental health and self-care. Here are some ways that we can manage our mental health and thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stay informed, but be mindful of the media you’re consuming

When you read the news, you should not feel panicked; you should feel more knowledgeable and empowered to take action. Choose your sources of information carefully, and focus on finding helpful information that you can use to your benefit. It is not beneficial for you to fill your mind with terrifying statistics and situations that are out of your control. Unfortunately, this is most often what we are shown in the media.

Instead, look for media that offers you helpful resources. The goal is to increase the feeling that you have the tools you need to deal with this situation. What are some proven ways you can boost your immune system? How can you take better care of yourself while you’re in quarantine? What are the social distancing recommendations in your local area? If your mental health is suffering, it is okay to go a couple of days without staying up to date – or to stop watching the news altogether.

Get ready, even if no one else is around to see you

It is amazing how much better we feel if we spend even just five extra minutes getting ready in the morning. If you’ve been struggling with low self-esteem these past few months, dress the same as you would if you were heading to work or school every day. Look presentable for yourself, even if no one else is around to see you. You always deserve to feel beautiful, and a pandemic doesn’t change that.

Don’t feel guilty about your coping mechanisms

This is a new situation that none of us have experienced before, and there is no right or wrong way to deal with it. With that being said, it’s unrealistic to expect yourself to handle it perfectly. It’s okay if you’ve been indulging in comfort food or doing nothing besides watching Netflix. Cut yourself some slack while you adjust to this new normal. Instead of beating yourself up when you’re feeling unproductive, have compassion for yourself. Everyone has their own way of coping in times of stress, and that is completely normal.

Keep busy

During this time, many of us have gone from maintaining busy schedules to doing nothing at all. Just because certain areas our lives have been put on pause, doesn’t mean you can’t use this newfound time productively – take advantage of it! Start journaling, exercise often, practice self-care, or pick up the hobbies you didn’t have time for. You can also use this time to reconnect with family and friends, even if it’s virtually.

Make use of teletherapy and other online resources

There’s no better time to take advantage of online mental health resources. Here are a few free or low-cost tools you can use to keep your mental health on track:

The Honest Guys: There are a ton of free meditation videos on YouTube that will help reduce the anxiety you might be feeling. The Honest Guys is one of the most popular. They have relaxing meditation videos that help with insomnia, PTSD, self-esteem, and more.

Headspace: A mindfulness and meditation app that you can download for free. They are also offering a free year of the Headspace Plus subscription for people who live in the U.S. and are unemployed as a result of the pandemic.

Betterhelp: A popular teletherapy platform. If you’re interested in starting or continuing therapy, you can get counselling at BetterHelp for as little as $35 per week. Talkspace is another option for affordable therapy online.

ZenFriend: A free app that offers guided meditations and has a built-in timer to help you track your progress. This is a great app if you’re new to meditating and want to start simple.

Get outdoors

If you are able, spend as much time outside as possible (while maintaining social distance, of course). Low vitamin D levels have been linked with depression and can have a serious effect on your mood. So, if you’ve been feeling down lately and don’t know why, a lack of sunlight could be a major contributing factor. Taking vitamin D supplements, going for a walk, or lounging outside for a few minutes a day can help boost your mental health.

The whole world is experiencing a collective trauma, but we are getting through it together. Let’s choose to view this as a rare opportunity to slow down and take care of ourselves in a society that is usually chaotic. An opportunity to connect with each other and talk about our struggles, or the self-reflection we were able to do during this time. We may not be able to travel for leisure and go to our favorite restaurants or bars. But when this all ends, we will be more grateful for those everyday pleasures than we were before.