5 Ways to Boost Your Mental Health During COVID-19

COVID-19 has changed the world in countless ways, and that has taken a toll on all of our mental states in one way or another. Whether you've been isolating at home over the past several months or you’ve had to cancel major life events, COVID’s uprooting of our normal lives has been the source of a lot of stress. This stress can manifest itself in unhealthy ways, which can lead to even more stress and anxiety down the road.

But, even though the pandemic has seemingly changed everything about our lives, that doesn’t mean that we need to wallow in those changes. In fact, we can take this opportunity to adapt to this new normal and find healthy ways of coping with it.

Over the past several months, you’ve likely heard of people finding new and exciting ways to pass the time during quarantine, and it’s important that you develop healthy coping mechanisms as well. Below are five ways to boost your mental health during COVID-19. Follow along to learn more.

Eat Healthy Meals

Cooking and baking have been a major theme during quarantine, but many of the viral-worthy recipes we’ve seen have been good for the soul, but not necessarily good for the body. Indulging in your cravings is great to do every once in a while, but it’s important to have a healthy, balanced diet. Healthy diets aren’t just for maintaining our waistlines, but they can help us maintain good mental health.

During this time, we need to do everything we can to boost our health holistically, and that all starts in the kitchen. The old saying, “you are what you eat,” may seem a bit cliche, but in many ways, it’s true. If you consistently eat foods that are low in nutrients, you’re eventually going to feel sluggish and fatigued, which can negatively affect your mental state. To avoid this, eat a diet packed with fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and protein. To help you get started with your healthy eating kick, here is a list of quarantine-friendly recipes from Food52.

Connect with Your Loved Ones

One of the hardest things about the pandemic is having to stay away from our family and friends. Before, we could simply visit them without a second thought, but now, there has to be a lot more consideration into whether or not it will be a risk. This can take a huge toll on your mental health, especially if you rely on your loved ones to feel better.

Even though you may not be able to physically be with them, there are a lot of ways you can stay connected with your loved ones. Zoom and other video conferencing services make it easy for people to continue to have those “face-to-face” interactions that they crave. Additionally, people have started sending care packages and letters to their loved ones as a way to show them that they care. Whatever way you choose to connect with your loved ones, make sure to do it often so you can continuously stay in a positive mental state.

Move Your Body

Working out is important regardless, but during the pandemic, it’s more important than ever. We get it – sometimes, it can feel like the last thing you want to do is work out after yet another day of quarantine. But, working out not only strengthens your body and your heart, but it also produces endorphins that will naturally put you in a better state of mind.

So, try to move your body at least three times a week. They don’t need to be intense, hour-long workouts – just do whatever feels right for you. Go on a light jog, do an easy yoga practice, or even walk outside for a few minutes and soak up the sun. Trust us, the more you move your body, the better you’ll feel.

Take a (Responsible) Vacation

We know that we’re supposed to be staying at home, but sometimes it does the mind good to get out into the world and take a break from stressing out about the pandemic. Besides, there are plenty of responsible ways that you can vacation to ensure that you and your loved ones can avoid coming into contact with others.

For a sense of normalcy, you can go out and rent an isolated place to stay for a weekend. Vacation rental sites like Airbnb and VRBO are going above and beyond to ensure that their properties are deep cleaned before new guests arrive, and you can see this commitment reflected in the comments on individual listings. For a more isolated vacation, going on a road trip or camping are other fun and inexpensive options that will get you out of the house in a responsible way.

Make Sure You’re Staying Healthy

Lastly, and perhaps most important, make sure that you’re doing everything you can to stay healthy. Things like wearing a mask whenever you leave your home, washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, and practicing social distancing are a given right now, but there are even more measures you can take to stay healthy.

First, be sure that you don’t miss any of your doctor’s appointments. These appointments establish a baseline of your health, which will help you know if anything COVID or non-COVID related is on the horizon.

Additionally, disinfect your surfaces at least once a week and immediately after returning home from running errands. Virus germs don’t live on surfaces for very long, but it’s better to be on the safe side during this pandemic.

Lastly, if you’re feeling sick and suspect that you have COVID-like symptoms, order an at-home COVID-19 saliva test kit. Testing centers around the country are doing a great job, but they can sometimes have long lines and even longer wait times for getting results back. You can avoid this with an at-home test kit, which will give you much more peace of mind during a potentially stressful and uncomfortable time.

COVID-19 has changed many aspects of our lives, but that doesn’t mean it has the power to change your mental state. With these tips, you can reclaim some of your normal life back and navigate this time with better mental health.