Ways to Improve Your Mental Health During the Covid-19 Pandemic

A pandemic can be such a traumatic and stressful time, often, people forget to take care of themselves and continue to monitor their mental health.

According to the CDC, in June of 2020, 31% of US adults reported struggling with stress and anxiety. The CDC conducted a study and found many adults reported feeling heightened substance abuse, worsened mental state, and suicidal ideations.

A statement from Mayo Clinic described the effects of covid-19, “The COVID-19 pandemic has likely brought many changes to how you live your life, and with it uncertainty, altered daily routines, financial pressures and social isolation. You may worry about getting sick, how long the pandemic will last, whether you will lose your job, and what the future will bring. Information overload, rumors and misinformation can make your life feel out of control and make it unclear what to do.”

There are several ways mental health can be overlooked. Covid-19 has affected people in a multitude of ways, therefore, taking care of the mind and body are the most important methods of self-care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Covid-19 has caused people to acquire such issues:

• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones

• Changes in sleep or eating patterns

• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating

• Worsening of chronic health problems

• Worsening of mental health conditions

• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

People overlook mental health and confuse it with having to make drastic changes to begin their self-care journey. During a global pandemic, the first method to help improve one's mental health is, relax and recharge. Mayo Clinic suggests setting aside personal time to focus on yourself. This means scheduling quiet time to relax and recharge the mind. This includes anything you can think of to help relax such as a nature walk, bubble bath, meditation, yoga, reading a book and more.

Mayo Clinic suggests getting into a regular routine. A routine will allow people to have a sense of stability in their lives although the world around them seems to have such uncertainty regarding when the world will ever go back to ‘normal.’ A regular routine includes consistent mealtimes, work and school schedules, exercise, and setting aside time for breaks.

Kenne Lewis, New York Rangers public relations associate, recalls moments living in New York City during the pandemic.

“It was pretty lonely living in New York during quarantine,” Lewis recalls. “I had my roommates in our tiny three-bedroom apartment, and two rowdy dogs. Before moving to New York, I was living in Atlanta during the beginning of the pandemic. My sister and I had the idea of driving to Tennessee to pick up dogs for some new companions,” she added. “Getting a dog during a pandemic was the best idea I possibly had, it was a way to get myself in a regular routine and it allowed me to always have some form of company.”

According to NY Times, 280,270 dogs were adopted in 2020. Dr. Marty Greer, a veterinarian and author of “Your Pandemic Puppy: Finding and Raising a Well-Adjusted Dog During Covid-19 spoke about people recalling that their dogs were essential during this time.

“I love that my dog Bella gave me a reason to take care of myself, if I didn’t, who would take care of her?” Lewis said. “Getting a dog allowed me to schedule time outside of my apartment to avoid extended periods of isolation in the house. Long walks around the city allowed me to relax and get fresh air (masked up of course) and get a change of scenery other than the walls of my room in my apartment.”

A dog was just one way out of the many that Lewis chose to take care of her mental health and give her a sense of being. Mayo Clinic is one of the many resources to help give people a list of ways to monitor their health and stay safe during these trying times. There is no limit on the ways in which to help jumpstart taking care of your mental health, the main goal is staying safe and staying healthy.