Let’s be honest, 2020 has been one of the toughest years for humanity. Across cities, countries and continents, we all have experienced what we call a downturn. With the outburst of Covid-19 pandemic, things haven’t been any better. While the idea of confining ourselves in our houses with our loved ones may sound exciting initially, too much of anything is bad. From the loss of lives, a persistent health scare, loss of jobs, long working hours, the pressure to manage duties in your personal and professional life, financial crunch, slipping away of opportunities and, most importantly, loss of human connection, the pandemic has hit everyone hard.
The lack of positive news in mainstream media, finding escapism in social media, isolationism from the outside world coupled with loss of ‘me-time’ inside the house, are enough reasons to make anyone feel on the verge of an emotional breakdown.
Don’t ignore the fact that this phase has been tough in terms of emotional and mental wellbeing. With the stigma attached to depression and anxiety in India, the percentage of people willing to seek professional help is rather negligible. I am no mental health expert but these are some of the learnings from the pandemic to keep a happy heart and healthy mind. – Practice Meditation: Yes, it is tough to start but it is not impossible. Start with 5 minutes of guided meditation and increase your time as you go along with it. In a world flooded with audiovisual medium, start your day by diving into silence and introspection. Find a YouTube video or a podcast that works best for you.
– Get your daily dose of positivity: You cannot go ahead without a little dose of positivity. Even if you are a workaholic, you will not be able to give your best without passion, motivation and positivity. Pick a diary and pen down your thoughts. Listen to yourself. It is okay to feel low or take a break. Notice what is troubling you, evaluate its priority in your life and see if you can look at that particular situation from a different perspective. Even if you are at zen, explore what the world has to offer. Take some time out to hear people share their journey, their experiences and what tactics they use for selfimprovement.
– Limit time on social media: It is very tempting to spend your entire day consuming content on social media. Watching your friend’s story, pretty pictures of social media bloggers and browsing through your feed to check up on your friends.It leads to us feeling left out (what the millennials term ‘FOMO’) and comparison. Absorbing all the information on what’s happening in and around the world is wise. But excessive consumption of news tends to make you feel that everything is wrong in the world.
– Move your body: Work from home has urged us to spend enormous amount of hours on our work desk. So much so that when we are deeply immersed in work, we ignore what’s happening around us. This affects both mental health and physical health. Squeeze in a quick workout. While it is hard to drag yourself to workout, the sense of accomplishment, which you will experience after it, will make it all worth it.
– Find your joy: Some people feel happy when they dance, paint or cook among other things. Doing what you love will only act as a fuel for you to feel better and never lose sight of what you truly are.
– Reach out: When you feel the need to vent out, don’t be hesitant to reach out. Speak to people who understand you and have your best interest in their heart. Instead of keeping all your feelings stored in a tight glass jar, say it out loud. If something is disturbing you, be upfront about it. It’s cathartic. Reach out to a mental health professional if needed.
– Give your mind and body enough fuel: Nothing will work until your mind and body are not fully recharged. Make sure to get proper sleep. If you have difficulty sleeping, you can read a book, listen to calming music or even journal before heading to bed.
Also, pay attention to dietary habits, eat healthy and ensure that you don’t sacrifice on getting enough nutrients because you don’t feel like it. No matter what age you are, where you are in the world, make yourself your #1 priority and take care of your mental health.