Keeping Your Mental Health in Check During Quarantine

With the pandemic continuing to keep everybody secluded at home, it's natural to feel uneasy. With so much uncertainty abound, it doesn't help that being inside for an extended period can result in some persistent cabin fever. Now more than ever, it's essential to keep your mental health in check and give yourself the proper self-care to get through this time day by day. 

Start by incorporating these into your routine.

• Find therapy in music

If there ever was a time to get those piano lessons, this is the one. Numerous studies and controls have revealed the significant impact that music has on various mental health issues, from depression to stress and more. Simply listening to music already has positive effects, but there is a known link to the therapeutic effects of actually playing an instrument. You can even go beyond and try to freestyle or create your own music as well, as long as you don't make it a pressure point on yourself.

• Reach out if you feel alone

Loneliness can be a terrible thing that consumes you if you don't get pulled out of it. Plus, to be left alone with your thoughts is another issue that can compound that. Call up some friends, make sure you still take the time to communicate with a trusted circle and even talk to a therapist if you feel like you need guidance or a listening ear. Even if you may not be able to surround yourself with people yet, simply being able to hang out over the phone or through a video chat can be a world of difference.

• Get enough exercise

Quarantine has put a wrench in people's routines, and that alone is a big adjustment to deal with. There's a tendency to fall into a sedentary lifestyle, and although you shouldn't pressure yourself to keep it moving each day, it's best to keep exercising regularly. Extended sedentary time has medically been known to make emotional well-being go down and increases the risk for anxiety and depression to develop. It can also lead to sleeping disorders that exacerbate those mental detriments.

• Pursue your hobbies

Take this time to simply do what you like. Having something fun to fill up the time can be therapeutic and rewarding, and it can make the hours much more bearable. If you can start any projects in line with your hobbies, it can even help you feel accomplished and more motivated.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking things are just a waste of time, as any interest that engages you is a reliable way to spend your time.

• Dedicate some offline time

With the barrage of bad news and different information on social media, it's okay to want to disconnect now and then. Give yourself some ample time away from the internet and bask in the little things you can enjoy in the "real world." Water some plants, have a snack, or even just lay back and watch some clouds by the window. It's a great way to recharge your social battery and get your mind off of things while keeping your eyes healthy with limited screen time.
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Try these out yourself to make quarantining a little easier, especially if you're feeling troubled.

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by IC mag Contributor