As we all know, the Pandemic spike is in full effect, as experts had predicted months ago. It is more important than ever to take care of your physical AND mental health. Most of us have all become experts at sanitizing and washing our hands, wearing a mask, staying socially distant, and avoiding large gatherings. You are not alone if you are growing tired of these constraints and constant fear of “what if?”. Thanksgiving will look a little different this year for many people, and the other holidays will likely not resemble what we are all used to. It is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. It certainly doesn’t feel that way…
So, what can we do to keep spirits and morale up?
- Talk. Talk to your friends, family, co-workers about how you are feeling. It is okay to express that you are frustrated or scared. Talking is so important right now as many of us do not interact daily with our co-workers in-person anymore. The days of receiving a hug or a gesture like a pat on the back have disappeared for now. This puts more weight on verbalizing how you feel, even if it is via text, phone, zoom, e-mail, or any other platform.
- Get fresh air. The winds may be getting colder, but it is still so important to get fresh air and sunlight. Go for a socially distant walk to clear your mind or take your dog out back to play fetch. Sometimes getting out of the house for a walk, run or bike-ride can bring back a sense of normalcy that we all crave more than ever.
- Take it back old school. Board and card games, puzzles, books – a bunch of old pastimes (that many of us had pushed to the back of the closet during the tech boom) have brought joy and so many memories during these hard times. Sometimes the simple things go a long way!
- Try to stay positive and thankful. This is a tough one right now as we head back into pandemic chaos mode. Reassure yourself that we are all in this together. Every single one of us is feeling the weight of this pandemic in one way or another. You are not alone!
Don’t underestimate how important your mental health is during this winter. The days are shorter, the weather is colder, and stress levels are at an all-time high for a million different reasons. Take care of yourself and we will all get through this challenging time with the help of each other!
Leave a Reply