Staying indoors against one’s will for days is surely a recipe for foul moods, boredom and even depression depending on the atmosphere at home. As we wait for this pandemic to pass and flatten the curve, here are some practical tips to keep your spirits up during this lockdown period.
1 Pay attention to key relationships. This includes your partner, children, parents and grandparents, siblings and closest friends. Do your best to check in on them as much as you can.
2 Stay active. The temptation to do nothing is strong. Try to resist it.
3 Exercise. It is vital to your physical and mental wellbeing. Keep on keeping fit so when the restrictions are lifted, you will be good to go.
4 Watch your diet. For most people, boredom, dislocation and loneliness equal eating. It is important to be aware of it. Try to eat as much healthy foods as you can.
5 Keep an eye on the booze. Don’t grab a bottle any time you feel bored. Exercise self-control.
6 Sleep. Do your best to have a restful sleep whenever you lie down.
7 Read books. Don’t be a 24/7 news junkie. Read books that have nothing to do with the current crisis; fiction or nonfiction, can be such a wonderful release from the stress.
8 Cut down on social media. Endlessly scrolling through Twitter and Instagram is not exactly healthy.
9 Listen to music regularly. Good music puts you in a calm mood.
10 Try journaling. Write down your thoughts. Keep a diary. Make lists.
11 Get in touch with someone you have lost contact with.
12 Do something good for someone else every day.
13 Stay curious. Try new things.
14 Remember that all crises end eventually. By the time this one is over, there will have been a lot of death, a lot of grief, a lot of suffering. But it will end, and most of the world will still be here. Hence, keep things in perspective. Don’t panic.
15 See an opportunity in every setback. The whole world is going to have to take that approach when this is all over, but we can do it in our own lives now. Most people are being kinder. There is a boom in volunteering. There is more respect for so-called unskilled workers, more appreciation of health workers and carers. The air is cleaner. I guess that is a long-winded way of saying try to look on the bright side. What choice do we have?
It is well.
Source: The Guardian
