Unsurprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a tremendous toll on people’s lifestyles and mental health.
Everyone has experienced stress and anxiety due to the significant changes brought by the pandemic and the implemented lockdowns.
Students were forced to continue their studies at home and attend online classes.
Businesses had to transition online and operate remotely.
Employees also had to adjust to a remote work setup.
And everyone was prohibited from going outdoors to reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus.
Now we hope that the worst part of the pandemic is over, people are starting to resume their regular routines, receive their vaccinations, and adjust to the new normal.
But even after the restrictions have been lifted and the face-to-face interactions have resumed, everyone is still advised to be cautious with their health to prevent potential reinfection.
And so, the following are a few tips to help you take care of your health and well-being in the post-COVID era:
Post COVID-19 Mental Health Tips
1. Stay Physically Active
Due to the lockdown and social distancing restrictions, many people had to stop or change their exercise routines and physical activities.
While others were able to find ways to continue doing physical activities despite being indoors, some were forced to completely quit as they had other obligations to attend to.
But now, you have the opportunity to get back on track and pick up an exercise program you’ll greatly benefit from. You must overcome anxiety in order to resume making progress toward improved health.
Remember that daily exercise and regular physical activity are crucial in strengthening your body and lowering your risk of contracting any virus or disease and it helps to avoid depression.
Staying physically active can help boost your immune system and at the same time, reduce your stress and worry caused by the pandemic. So, get creative in incorporating physical activities into your daily routine, whether at home or outdoors.
This may include:
• Jogging or walking
• Dancing
• Biking
• Gardening or doing lawn work
If you feel uneasy around a lot of people, you can work out at home or in a less populated area. Ultimately, the goal is to keep your body moving to reap the benefits of exercising.
2. Enjoy A Good And Relaxing Massage
It might not be best to choose a sedentary lifestyle, especially if you feel like you want to get accustomed to it. This is because long periods of sitting in front of a computer might impair your muscles and blood circulation.
When overlooked, you’ll likely experience more frequent back pains, headaches, and muscle stiffness, which could result in restricted body movement.
Despite the lifestyle you lead, you should take time to have a good massage to properly take care of your health and wellness post-COVID.
Myotherapy and remedial treatment are two of good types of massages you can have.
Myotherapy massage can remove tension headaches and is focused on preventing restricted joint movement and alleviating issues such as poor posture and muscle sprains.
Meanwhile, remedial therapy is designed to improve joint mobility, relax muscles, and strengthen ligaments and tendons.
Regardless of what type of massage you prefer, a body massage can help improve your overall health and wellness.
3. Take Time To Be Zen
Many people have experienced stress and anxiety as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially considering that it has dominated the news for the past two years.
Despite the return to normalcy post-COVID, some people continue to worry excessively about the possibility of contracting the virus.
Unfortunately, letting these negative and restless thoughts overcome your mind can adversely affect your overall health.
Too much stress and anxiety might result in sleepless nights, loss of appetite, and extreme exhaustion.
One way to prevent this is by making time to practice Zen meditation.
Here are some suggestions to help you cultivate a sense of inner calmness and get rid of stressful thoughts and emotions:
• Practice mindfulness in whatever you do
• Do deep breathing exercises as soon as you feel stressed
• Start a journal
• Listen to soothing music
• Take a break from social media or any online platform that reminds you of the pandemic
Embracing a Zen lifestyle can help bring you back to the present moment so you can forget about the negativities brought on by the COVID-19 virus.
You may also take this as an opportunity to develop better and healthier routines.
4. Get Adequate Sleep
It’s crucial to take steps to establish healthy sleeping patterns and habits post-COVID. This is because, in addition to weakening the immune system, insufficient sleep can lead to cardiac diseases or worsen pre-existing medical issues.
On the other hand, getting enough sleep can elevate your mood, enhance your memory, and increase your productivity.
This is why adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily, while children must get 8 to 12 hours.
If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, you may include the following into your bedtime ritual:
• Taking a warm bath
• Meditating
• Listening to music
• Reading
• Drinking tea
Establishing a bedtime routine can help you calm down, relax, and prepare your mind and body for sleep.
5. Stay Connected
The pandemic has significantly impacted everyone’s social life. As previously noted, physical connections decreased, and social media platforms became the sole means of connecting with others. The imposed restrictions have made it difficult to communicate with family and friends.
While this was done for everyone’s safety, it affected some people’s mental and emotional health. The lack of social interaction caused them to feel alone and depressed.
Although virtual meetings became a possibility, nothing compared to the wonderful feeling of seeing friends and loved ones in person.
Thankfully, it’s now feasible to reconnect with family and friends post-COVID. The experience of taking a trip or going out for meals with them is now yours to enjoy.
Although participating in activities with your loved ones is fun, it’s still preferable to err on the side of caution. By adhering to protocols like wearing face masks and maintaining social distance, you can safeguard both your health and theirs.
Lastly, make sure to utilize all types of technologies for communication to maintain your relationships and provide companionship to your loved ones abroad.
Constant communication is among the best ways to take care of your mental and emotional health and improve overall wellness.
Key Takeaway
There’s no denying that there are numerous approaches to taking care of your health and well-being post-COVID.
Your life can significantly be changed by adopting basic lifestyle changes like getting adequate sleep, exercising, and meditating.
Take the required actions to calm your mind if you are now suffering tension and worry.
You can also use this article as a guide so you can learn how to deal with stressful situations and the changes that the new normal will bring.
If you feel like you need some extra help to care for your mental health during this time, Vision Counselling and Psychology will has Perth counsellors and Telehealth counsellors available for you to speak to.
