Taking Care of You: How to Support Your Mental Health During COVID – 19

Hey lovelies! Raise your hand if you’re going through a tough time right now. 🙋‍♀️ SAME.

It’s definitely a tough time for everyone, but we have to make the best of it.

While we’re doing that, it’s really important to protect and support your. mental health. Be aware of your thought patterns and habits, and do things to break through your stress in a healthy way!

As for myself, I’ve been working to spend more time with my loved ones (social distancing permitting!) and connecting with nature!

For a while, I was keeping myself really busy to get through it, but watching the news constantly began to take a toll on me in ways I didn’t expect.

Related: How To survive as an Influencer during COVID-19

In fact, I woke up having a panic attack in the middle of the night! OMG!

That was a turning point for me, and that I need to care for my mental health and work to not let stress and anxiety around COVID-19 get the best of me.

My mom helped, too. She always keeps me positive. When I get overwhelmed and have a break down like this, she says “No way! You have to be strong like steel, we will get through this!”

How to Support Your Mental Health During COVID-19

As I’ve worked through my own mental health support in the past few weeks, I figured I would share some of the tips that worked for me, in case you find yourself in the same boat.

1. Embrace Meditation and Mindfulness

App Calm was suggested by my therapist a while ago, and I’ve learned to lean on it especially when I’m stressed out. It has so many meditations jam-packed into it for tons of different reasons and purposes.

2. Exercise – Even If It’s Just a Little Bit!

Working out from home was a transition for me after attending my favorite Yoga studio in Atlanta (West Side Yoga) for a while. However, I’ve switched to their online membership and take classes from home! It’s just $29 a month.

Here are some others I occasionally use to switch it up!

• Hot Pilates Youtube workouts
• 7 Minute Workout Fitness App (Free)
• Daily Yoga App (Free)
• 30 Day Fitness Challenge Pro App

3. Get Outdoors

You can’t really go out and socialize, which is tough! But if you’re feeling stir-crazy, go for a walk or have a picnic at the park. Just make sure to stay 6 feet away from other people you might encounter, and wash your hands!

We’ve started going on picnics regularly when the weather is nice. I bring along this handy beach blanket that folds super compactly, a utensil organizer, and a small cooler picnic basket.

You can get all of these on Amazon!

4. Give Yourself a Luxe Spa Experience

Nothing calms me down quite like a warm bubble bath with my favorite essential oils and candles.

I LOVE Modern Mystic products for this, like my rose quartz water bottle, bath bombs, candles, and salts. It just feels so luxurious and spa-like while I’m stuck at home!

• Modern Mystic Rose Quartz Water Bottle
• Modern Mystic Bath Bomb
• Modern Mystic Clearing Bath Salt
• Modern Mystic Clearing Candle

I also love Crystal Bar Soap, which is infused with a crystal as well as essential oils for specific purposes.

Finally, I plug in a salt lamp and an oil diffuser to complete the experience.

Pink Himalayan Salt Lamps emit a stream of negative ions which purify the air against allergens and pollutants.

5. Seek Connection

Even though you can’t hug, or hold hands, you can still contact your friends and family. Stay connected through FaceTime, or a virtual happy hour!

Avoid isolating yourself completely, whatever you do. According to studies, loneliness can be as damaging to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day!

Stay in touch creatively by Skyping, calling, texting, or even emailing friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. Make sure to ask how they’re doing and let them know how you’re doing. This can also help destress and lighten the load for both of you.

As humans, we are wired to rely on social connections.

Staying connected helps us manage stress and guards us against unhealthy coping mechanisms, like drinking and eating too much!

6) Count Your Blessings

Gratefulness is a powerful tool. Be thankful for your health, body and also friends and family!

And don’t forget to thank the people who are facing the coronavirus head-on: From doctors and nurses to delivery workers and the folks bagging your groceries, these are the heroes who are knowingly putting themselves at risk to serve the community.

7) TURN OFF THE NEWS

Stay informed about what’s happening through reliable sources, such as the CDCand World Health Organization (WHO). But be sure to limit the time you actually spent watching the news.

It goes without saying that obsessing over the endless coronavirus coverage will, at some point, drive you (and anyone you live with) absolutely nuts. 

8) Seek professional help

To adjust for social distancing, many therapists have are working on telehealth platforms. So if you need professional help right now, try out  BetterHelp and Talkspace!

How are you all coping with this time of isolation? Let me know your self-care tips in the comments below!