As you've noticed by now, my posts are more frequent than I said they would initially be. That's because our current situation as a community, a state, and a country. COVID-19 is the primary focus for all news media and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. With this being said, we also approach a problem with this pervasive, constant reporting; our worries and fears become magnified by the frequency of information coming at us every second of every day as our phones, tablets, laptops, and TVs update us... well pretty much every second.
This is a time when mental health is especially important to be an advocate for. Mental health is always important, but it's in times of crisis like these that we as individuals, workers, psychology students, and concerned citizens, make sure we are checking in with each other - making sure we are squelching the current reality the media is portraying. Yes, I would like to think that what we are seeing and listening to is altogether truthful and helpful. We would like to think. However, as this crisis is showing us, the media is under an immense amount of pressure to report, report, report, and still beat their competitors. This unfortunately leads to dramatized reporting of cases and what organizations like the CDC and WHO are doing to combat this crisis.
Having this fire hose of news coming at us 24/7 simply is not good for us. It's not good to see more than enough of a situation that we don't really have any say in how it will effect the rest of the world. Yes, we need to continue to follow the guidelines given by the CDC and WHO on how we can individually deal with this crisis, but it doesn't make much sense to constantly look for breaking news. Instead of looking for updates, interviews, and presidential live streams on the situation, we individually need to distance ourselves from a situation that we individually can't turn around.
Doom and gloom? No. I'm just saying that we need to continue to make changes in our own lives and daily practices, but not sweat the nationwide response to this situation. Instead, hunker down with a book, play a video game you've haven't played in a long time; do things that are going to make you happy that will compliment your quarantine and help you distance yourself from the situation if you don't need to be in it.
Remember: be kind to yourself; what you watch, listen to, and read effects you mentally and physically. Practice self-care!
Here are some things I do to practice self-care:
1. Meditate: although I've been a little inconsistent, I try to meditate 3 times a week. Put on some nature sounds or a guided meditation from Spotify. Let yourself let go for even just a few minutes and do it consistently!
2. Deeply focus on a book: Fiction, nonfiction, whatever you want. Find a book you haven't read and probably will enjoy; dive in. You deserve to have time to enjoy a story.
3. Journal my thoughts and feelings: when a though or feeling comes to mind that is disturbing or guilt driven, I write it down. We can only keep thoughts in our head for so long. We need to share. We need to put them down if they're private and troublesome enough to not share with someone else.
4. Exercise: nah, it doesn't need to be a long, grueling workout. I workout for about 15 minutes everyday (mostly everyday). Make sure you're using as many areas as you can to have a satisfying workout despite how short it may be.
5. Eat well: for me breakfast is usually oatmeal or granola with an occasional egg. Lunch? Whatever I end up having I make sure I have some kind of leafy greens, grains, and protein. Dinner? Whatever is being cooked but I'll only have one portion.
6. Treat yourself every once in a while: you have to treat yourself sometimes! For me, I like to treat myself with some kind of cake and a new book.
7. Have conversations: I talk with my parents often. While your inside make sure you have your friends contact info. Call them up or text them. Make sure you're still being social while your home. It will help with feeling lonely and socially deprived.
8. Have a nap: something I save for when I really need it. I take a 25 minute nap. Not much but it can make a difference in how you're feeling about things.
9. Go for a walk: whether it's down the hall in your apartment complex, through a community garden, whatever; take a short walk. Keeping yourself active during down time like this is important for keeping your mind active and fresh.
10. Curate what it is you see on social media: unfollow unnecessarily negative people, groups, or pages on your social media. I'm assuming you're going to be using it while you have more time at home. Make it so you see nice things!
That is all. Be kind to yourself. Keep yourself active physically and mentally.
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