How to Stay Sane in Quarantine

To commemorate World Mental Health Day, we have rounded up some ways to help you maintain your head above water during these times. 

Very few of us have experienced a pandemic before. It is certainly a peculiar time, with no rule book stating how things should be done. Financial stressors, mental anxiety, feelings of claustrophobia due to being confined at home — these all can adversely affect mental health.

In a time where everything is so unstable and uncertain, what can we do to keep stressors at bay? 

Sticking to a routine

To keep a sense of normalcy, having a routine is essential. Despite staying home for an extended period of time, it is good to remind ourselves that this is not a holiday. For most people, school and work are still on. Set a daily time in which you wake up, shower, have breakfast, and start your day. Staying disciplined with a set routine will help you feel grounded and in control. 

With that being said, make sure to have some time to relax. Follow the ebb and flow of your day and honour how you feel. You want to kick back and binge watch some Netflix after a long day of work? Go ahead!

Limit your news intake

It is true, sometimes, that ignorance is bliss. If watching never ending COVID-19 news is starting to make you excessively anxious, then it may be a good idea to limit your news intake. 

To limit does not mean to entirely forego. However, do you really have to know how many people got infected on the daily? Or the next Zoom call blunder made by a public figure? Observe how you feel and keep your news intake in moderation if you need to.

Staying physically active

Healthy body, healthy mind. There really is no better long-term solution to health than exercise. Understandably, it can be a bit tough to stay motivated when you are at home. However, science has proven that moving your body and regularly breaking some sweat has an overwhelmingly positive effect on our brains.

Feel the rush of endorphins! Whether it be a little bit of yoga and meditation at home or a quick refreshing jog outside, guaranteed you will feel triple times better after an exercise.

Eating healthy

Coupled with an exercise routine is eating a well-balanced, nutrient-dense meal. Give your body the nourishment it needs to perform. When at home, it may be tempting to order in. Once in a while is alright, but remember, cooking your own meals is good not just for your body but also your pocket. 

Go easy on yourself

We are all going through this together, doing the best that we can. You are feeling defeated today? That’s okay. Remember that what we are going through is not forever. You have had a bad day at work and want to sit on the couch eating a tub of ice cream? That’s perfectly fine! Give yourself grace. 

Teks: Rachel Melisa

Foto: Berbagai sumber