How to Stay Mentally Healthy in Quarantine

COVID-19 has escalated more and more over the last few weeks, with more than 500,000 cases in the US and 1.6 million cases worldwide. Everyone is told to stay at home and practice social distancing to avoid spreading the virus. As we are moving into the fourth week of quarantine, people are probably beginning to feel the effects of isolation on their mental health.

We all understand the importance of staying at home during this time, but social distancing can unfortunately be damaging to one’s mental health. Being trapped in your house with the same people for the unforeseeable future is surprisingly exhausting, especially for any over-thinkers out there.

With all this time to think and dwell you can easily get lost in your “dark place.” We’ve all been there, and we all have one. It’s that place in your mind where everything is negative and all you want to do is stay in bed watching Netflix or play video games all day.

So how do you avoid getting to this dark place? There are plenty of things you can include in your daily routine that will help with motivation and lift your spirits simply because it gives you something to do.

The first, and one of the most important ones, is to move around. According to a Harvard Health article written by Srnini Pillay, “recent studies show that the connection between your brain and your body is a 'two-way street' and that means movement can change your brain, too.” This would suggest that if you are feeling lazy and down, going for a walk could make you feel better. The fresh air doesn’t hurt either.

In addition to exercise, creating a schedule is going to help you feel like you have a purpose. Waking up at the same time every day and having a set time to do school-work could make you more productive. Trying to wake up at a decent hour when you have nothing to do or anywhere to be can be difficult, but is actually very important.

When you wake up in the morning, go about your routine as you would have if you were going to work or school. Girls; do your makeup and put on an outfit. Boys; take a shower and shave your face. This could help you feel better about yourself as well as more energetic throughout the day. It makes it less likely that you will get back in bed halfway throughout the day.

Remember to eat a balanced diet throughout the day. When faced with boredom, it is especially easy to go look in the fridge or pantry too many times a day, snacking on unhealthy treats and eating unnecessary amounts of food. We’ve all done this. Try to keep a normal eating schedule and don’t just eat because you have nothing else to do. Eating a whole bag of chips, though satisfying at the time, isn’t going to make you feel better in the long run; trust me.

One of the most difficult parts of this quarantine is feeling like you have nothing to do. Everything is closed down, and the state is under a Stay at Home order. Parks, beaches, hiking trails are all unavailable, so now you have to find new ways to entertain yourself inside. Sure, watching movies and playing video games was fun for the first few weeks but eventually you will likely begin to feel under-stimulated and bored; which could also end up affecting your mental health.

This is when you should try new things. Learn how to cook or bake something you’ve always wanted to taste, try meditation or yoga for the first time, read a book you’ve read good reviews on or teach yourself a dance. There are plenty of things you can get up to within your own home; the only limit is your imagination.

So while you are making lists and plans for everything you want to do when the quarantine is over, remember to prioritize your current mental health and keep yourself as busy as you can. Facetime friends and family to get some social interaction and above all, stay safe.