| Hannah Wilde, our new behavioral health and palliative care specialist, has put together some ideas for healthy living during COVID-19.
COVID-19 continues to impact our daily lives. We are offered recommendations to support our physical health, but what about our mental health? We believe our mental health is just as important, which is why we have included three tips below to help support mental health during this pandemic.
Tip # 1: Limit our exposures. It is easy to be bombarded with current events through the news, social media posts, friends, and the radio. If staying informed is important to you, then find a balance between tuning in and giving yourself space. Watch the news for a few minutes then turn the T.V. off and engage in activities that are meaningful to you. Play with your kids, go outside, read a book, cook, etc.
Tip #2: Learn your stressors. You will be better prepared to intervene and cope with your stressors if you can find out what spikes your stress (e.g., watching the news, talking to a specific friend or relative, kids fighting at home, etc.). Similar to how you might take something when you have an upset stomach, you can learn to pair coping skills of your choice with stressors to help mitigate spikes in your stress response. For example, actively use deep breathing or go for a walk when something causes your stress level to rise.
Tip # 3: Act now. There are many things happening in the world that we have little or no control over. But we do have control over ourselves. When you feel overwhelmed or helpless, focus on a movement or action you can do. Some examples include stretching, going for a walk, getting a cold drink of water, or taking a hot shower. This can help us reconnect with our bodies in the present and gives less focus to the past or future worries. |
