As the world faces an uncertain future and we enter another week of lockdown, many people are starting to feel the full impact of the pandemic.
While the situation is sure to trigger feelings of stress and anxiety, there are ways we can manage the impact the lockdown has on our physical and mental health. Let’s explore just four ways you can help manage the stress of the lockdown in your own home.
Stay in Touch with Loved Ones
While the coronavirus pandemic is scary, it is important to remember that we are not alone in facing it. Whether you are physically alone or in lockdown with family members, it is important that you stay in touch with all the important people in your life to minimize any feelings of isolation. Whether you do so with a simple text message or a phone call, reaching out and sharing your feelings will help you manage your own stress as well as help the person on the other end of the line.
We have to mention that too much social media could have a negative impact on your mental health, so try and keep your contact as personal as possible and don’t sit scrolling endlessly on Twitter or Facebook – this will only increase your anxiety.
Form a Routine
Maintaining a routine may help you feel more in control of the situation, so creating a lockdown routine is important to help manage your anxiety. Try and wake up at a similar time to your normal routine and eat meals at regular times, but also remember that the lockdown is going to have an impact on your life. Go easy on yourself and don’t beat yourself up if you planned to get up at 8 am but instead you hit the snooze button and got up at lunchtime instead.
Exercise Often
While it may be easy to fall into bad habits if you can’t get to your bi-weekly gym session, it is important that you stay active during the lockdown. Not only does working out kill time during the day but it also has a positive impact on not only your physical health but also your mental health.
According to the American Psychological Association, exercise has the potential to lift your energy levels and mood. Long-term data suggests that active people are less depressed than inactive people or those who were active and are no longer. Exercise also relieves stress, improves memory, and helps you achieve better sleep.
Get Enough Rest
While we’re on the topic of sleep, ensuring that you get enough quality sleep during the lockdown is key to maintaining your mental and physical health. Sleep disruptions and restless sleeping can not only result in feelings of tiredness and irritability but sleep problems also play a role in stress levels and the best way to ensure a good night’s sleep is by making sure you have a good bed and mattress.
Your mattress should be comfortable and big enough that you have the space to move around without breaking your sleep cycle. It should also support your body while you sleep, so you don’t wake up with more aches than you went to bed with.
Choosing the right mattress for you may be difficult, especially because good mattresses usually come with a big price tag, but luckily you have some extra time to do some research so you can take advantage of an upcoming Memorial Day mattress sale that could ensure your summer gets off to a restful start.
While the future may be uncertain, it is important that we remember that the pandemic and lockdown won’t last forever. Taking steps to maintain your physical and mental health now will help you cope with whatever may come next.
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