Governments have imposed partial and complete lockdowns worldwide to restrict movement to reduce the number of infected people. These steps have forced us to make changes to our daily routines. The first case of COVID-19 in Pakistan surfaced in March and it has given rise to new realities like work from home, home-schooling children, temporary unemployment and the inability to meet family members, colleagues and friends. It is very challenging to adapt to this new lifestyle. People live in constant fear of contracting the virus and worry about those who are close to them and are most vulnerable. This situation has been affecting the mental health conditions of numerous people.
Times are very uncertain, and it is important for us to contain our anxiety and to be productive. It is normal to get anxious because people have various concerns related to work, finances, schools etc. Engaging in some sort of activity can help get through it without getting anxious and can result in a healthy community. Anxiety can cause a lack of sleep and difficulty concentrating. There are several things we can do to take care of our mental health amid COVID-19 outbreak:
Keep a defined routine:
It is important to have a proper routine. One must sleep and wake up at fixed times because adequate sleep is necessary for a healthy mind. One must maintain personal hygiene and eat healthy food to make the immune system stronger. It is necessary to take out some time to exercise daily to stay active. There should be specific hours in a day to complete college or office related work. One must take out some time to do things that one loves. Following a routine will ensure that you are not wasting your time and you will have a feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day.
Limit screen time:
You must keep in check your screen time and make sure to take small breaks from on-screen activities. People find video games a way to distract themselves from all the tension, but they forget that too much time spent on screen can have an adverse effect on their health. Similarly, according to several studies, excess use of social media also negatively influences the mental health of a person.
Regulate media exposure:
It is good to keep yourself informed by checking the news once or twice a day, but it is also necessary to avoid exposure to sensationalized stories. Do not ignore the news altogether, just absorb important messages.
Try to be thankful for the things you have:
In these times, it is very necessary for people to focus on positive aspects of their lives. It is recommended to make a ‘gratitude list’ daily and be grateful for the things you have instead of worrying about those things that might happen in the future. We should be able to recognize good things in our daily lives.
Stay connected with friends and family:
In order to minimize the pandemic’s impact on our mental health, it is critical to stay in touch with family and friends. You can call them on a daily basis or message them frequently to check up on them, and vice versa.
Learn something new:
This outbreak is teaching us to be patient because it is not going anywhere anytime soon. We should utilize this time by learning a new skill at home as it gets overwhelming to follow the same routine every day. Some websites that provide online courses include Canva, Skillshare, Pluralsight and LearnSmart.
Enroll into free online courses:
There are few things that people always want to learn about apart from their degree. This is perhaps the best time to enroll into free online courses and learn new subjects. Many leading universities throughout the world are providing such courses to learn at your own pace through platforms such as Udemy, Class Central, Coursera and EdX.
It is believed that Sir Isaac Newton came up with his laws of motion whilst quarantined. Now it is our chance to utilize this time and not let it take a toll on our mental health.
