Mental health plays a significant role in our lives. We are all facing new and different stresses, anxieties and fears during these challenging times, and it is important to be aware of when we need help.
Saying we need to take care of ourselves and knowing how to take care of ourselves are very different. There are little things we can do to help take better care of ourselves and there are different ways people can care for themselves, what works for one person may not work for another. Below are some self-care ideas that may work for you.
How to take care of yourself:
- Begin by realizing that you are not alone. When life looks gloomy and dismal, it is important to find balance and to remember that you are part of a bigger picture. Saying this and realizing it are very different. To help understand this, perhaps take a step our into nature. Take a moment to look at what is around you. Do you see trees, hear birds? If your home is surrounded by other homes or buildings, you may need to take a walk or a short drive to see nature in its full glory. Wherever you are, try looking beyond the four walls of your home and be fully present and aware of the nature around you. Studies show that observing and being in nature can soothe anxiety, help us reconnect spiritually and ground us. It’s good for our souls too!
- Learn to balance. Now more than ever it is easy to get lost in the monotony of the day. Whether you are trying to balance working from home and family or you are retired and now find yourself suddenly sitting at home when you would have been out and about, learning how to balance your time is important. Watching too much television, playing online games or constantly working and then immediately starting dinner and not taking a few moments to transition can be harmful to your mental health. Try setting a timer when you sit to go on the internet, watch TV or even work. When the timer goes off, get up and stretch for a few minutes, take a short walk or call a friend. The important thing is that you find a way to balance your time.
- Find your inner child. Take a moment and recall when you were a small child. What things did you do that made you smile or laugh? Coloring? Reading? Grab a piece of paper and list a few things that come to mind. Then take a minute and consider what makes you smile, laugh or relax now. On that same paper, list the things that come to mind and compare the two lists’; notice what things are the same and what is different. Which activities from either section could you begin to incorporate into your life that would make you smile?
As the Corona virus is affecting all of us, there are some groups that are being effected differently. Our healthcare workers are one of those groups. Below are some tips specifically for them:
Next time you leave work think about what emotional baggage you may be carrying that you weren’t before. Some ideas to unload stresses that are unique to what is happening at work right now include:
- Speaking up, use your voice. If you are stressed, say something, don’t bottle it up.
- Find a buddy at work and talk about how you are feeling with someone you trust and who won’t judge you.
- In your time off, try to maintain as much normalcy as possible
- Distance yourself from social media
- If you feel that you need to talk to someone about the stress you are carrying around, look into your hospital or company’s employee assistance programs (EAP), or contact your health insurance provider to see what mental health options you have.
Healthcare workers are not the only ones needing extra support right now. Here is a list of some self-care practices everyone can benefit from:
- Say no to things that aren’t necessary right now
- Create boundaries and balance as much as possible
- Surround yourself with positive people and thoughts, don’t dwell o negativity or negative people
- Limit your time listening to or watching the news
- Get 15 – 20 minutes of physical activity each day, either indoors or outdoors, as approved or directed by your provider
- Practice self-compassion, be kind to yourself and mindful of how you are feeling
- Reach out to helpers, those people that are willing to lend a hand or ear
- Pray; prayer and faith have wonderful lasting effects on our mental health
We hope you found these tips on mental health helpful. If you feel like you aren’t able to fill your own cup right now, speak up. Call your provider, a trusted friend or if needed call the New Jersey state mental health gotline: 1-866-202-4357. The important thing is to speak up and take care of yourself. Be well and take care.
