While washing your hands, taking your vitamins and distancing yourself from others may keep you physically healthy, it's important not to overlook your mental health in a time like today.
Here are three steps you can take to stay mentally healthy ...
Step 1. Distance yourself in the right way
For the duration of this article, I will be referring to social distancing as physical distancing. The term "social distancing" can be dangerous, especially to those who struggle with mental illness.
While physically distancing yourself from others is crucial right now, it's almost just as crucial to your mental health not to socially distance yourself from your friends and family.
If you live alone, make sure to cut out large chunks of your day for some face-to-face socialization. FaceTime, Skype and Zoom are three options that will make you feel like you are in the same room with whoever you're talking to.
Step 2. Self-care! Self-care! Self-care!
Right now is the perfect time to be selfish! Spend your time working out, eating healthy and giving yourself some much-needed attention. It's okay to dedicate a whole day to doing whatever you want to do.
If you want to take a four-hour bath and listen to your favorite podcast, by all means, do it! Use this time while stuck inside to your advantage and catch up on "you time."
Step 3. Focus your energy on bettering yourself
Finish that book that you've been wanting to finish but haven't had the time to, or pick up yoga. Try to spend your time bettering your physical and mental health. While there's nothing wrong with having lazy days, you should try to be as proactive as you can.
If you are a person who struggles with mental health, lying in bed scrolling through Twitter may not be in your best interest. Try making it a goal to go to sleep each night feeling proud of the day you just had.
You don't have to write the next best-selling novel or paint a million-dollar painting, but just do the little things that you've been wanting to check off your checklist.
Deep-clean your fridge or pick up origami. However you choose to spend your time, have fun, and do whatever you want (because now you have the time to).
Just remember that eventually, things will go back to normal. It will just take some time. So why not take this time and use it as a period of self-reflection and growth? It's okay to feel out of whack and scared, but don't forget to breathe.
Try and enjoy this slowed-down pace around you, and use this as a time to get the things you've been putting off done.
You may feel alone, but there are always people who care, The Flyer staff included.
We will all get through this together.
By MELANIE RAIBLE
Editorial editor
Featured photos from Clipart.