 Our world has been one of chaos in the last few months, and it can become draining. Social media has taken a turn for the worse, but with social distancing, some of the only ways we have to communicate with each other. Even though the world is in turmoil, it doesn’t mean you should feel the pressures of the things outside your control. You are allowed to take a step back, turn your phone off, and distract yourself from resting your mind. Keeping up your mental health is one of the best ways to stay overall healthy. It can be challenging with what is happening, but it is crucial to distract yourself once. If you let things you cannot control overwhelm you, there can be nasty mental health side effects. Here are some of the best tips that will help you promote inner peace and a happier mind. There are many ways to promote peace and mental health. There may be some experimenting involved to try and figure out what works best for your lifestyle. Many people find their ways to take mental health breaks and keep distracted. This list is a good starting point to find what you love to do. Exercise This may seem cliché, but there is beauty in distracting your mind by using your body. If you are not someone who works out, taking the time to go on a long walk every day may benefit you. After two weeks of 30-minute walks every day, you will notice that you feel happier, you can appreciate the outdoors, and your waist is slimmer! All the great benefits of walking outside. Suppose you want to take it to the next level by walking outside without electronic devices. Meal Prep There are times you need to be distracted but also want to feel productive. Now is the time to start meal prepping for the rest of the week. This will help you feel accomplished, but it will help you stay ahead of the week and be health-conscious. This tip helps your mind stay focused, but it also helps you physically when you work on your nutrition. Believe it or not, diet plays a huge role in mental health. Meditation Each morning or evening, set aside five minutes of your time to sit and breathe. Focus on your body, your emotions, and acknowledge how you feel when you’re meditating. Then let it all go. Still, your body, still your mind, and breathe in and out as deeply as you can. Each exhale lets go of a stressor. Each inhale brings in positive energy from the universe. This is a fantastic way to set an intention at the beginning of the day and a great way to end a day on a positive note no matter what has happened. Play with Your Kids Outside If everyone is at home, put away the screens and get outside. This is the best time to stay distracted and promote everyone’s mental health by playing out in the sun! You will feel the fresh air, get vitamin D, and spend quality time with your kids. This is an excellent way to ensure your children are staying mentally healthy as well. Journaling Inspires Freedom If you are feeling angry or sad or overwhelmed, writing can be a great outlet. It helps you get any negative energy you have out and allows you to feel free of those draining thoughts. Journaling can be done anywhere at any time. Learning to express your ideas for what they are is a skill that will get better over time. Journaling can promote communication skills. You will learn how to articulate precisely the problem instead of blaming other things that are not the root cause of mental unhappiness. Focusing on Mental Health is Just as Important as Focusing on Physical Health Finding ways to distract yourself to promote mental peace can seem like a daunting task, especially when things get overwhelming. It would help if you learned to step back and acknowledge a situation without getting worked up. Learn to let things go, do not let negative energy build up in your body. Life is about growth; part of growing is learning to distract yourself healthily and then accepting certain situations
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 Most of us have that one person we can always count on. You call them up when you’re nervous about a job interview, frustrated with a family member, or even grieving the loss of a loved one. They always seem to know the right thing to say to make you feel a little better about the situation, a little more confident in yourself, and a little less lost in your sadness. But now we’re facing a global crisis unlike any we’ve ever seen before. When anxiety spikes, many respond by pulling away from friends and family. But now, more than ever, we need to keep the people we love close. Why? You ask… Why Do We Need Human Support and Connection? Our friends, whether they are connected with us through work, family, or hobbies, they bring a huge impact on our lives. How does the relationship with your friends benefit you? A good friend… • Lessens your stress . • Makes you happier. • Makes you feel more confident. • Gives you a sense of belonging. • Helps you deal with the challenges you face. • Helps you quit or avoid unhealthy habits. • Reduces your risk of major health problems. Good friends are good medicine! Not only do they improve your mental health, they also improve your physical health. With the anxiety about the pandemic, we need all the help we can get to stay happy and healthy. Where can we find good friends? You probably have more connections to potential friends than you think you do. At work, at play, when volunteering, or at community events, you can find people who can be good friends. There is a potential danger, though. While making friendships and building relationships with others are positive ways to enrich your character, doing so with toxic people can rob you of joy and, most probably, including good health. A great friend… • Likes you for who you are. • Is genuinely interested in your thoughts and feelings. • Feels comfortable opening up to. • Is supportive, respectful, and trustworthy. • Makes you feel safe, happy, and comfortable when you spend time with them. With a network of friends that meet these standards, you can face almost any challenge, including a global pandemic. How To Maintain Friendships While "Physically" Distancing? Although physically distancing may seem like the enemy to making and maintaining solid friendships, there are ways to work around this challenge. Regular communication, time and again, is vital in any relationship. Here are some creative ways to keep in touch while staying safe and healthy. • Video chats; • Phone calls; • Writing a letter or card; • Sending a thoughtful gift in the mail. • Playing online games with them. Many have been using video calling apps to take a coffee break together, cook together, and even take a gym class together. Modern technology has allowed us to do all this and more with our friends while maintaining a safe distance. Don’t let social distancing be the reason you miss out on all the benefits of having good friends. With just a little effort, you can keep your friendships strong, and even make some new ones. How I Can Be a Good Friend to Others? To make great friendships, we need to know how to be a good friend ourselves. Here are a few things we can do to be the kind of person that attracts good friends.
When you’re anxiety is overwhelming, a good friend can be like a shelter in a storm. The storm of challenges that you’re facing might not go away, but a good friend for sure will make it bearable. Their support will lessen the frustrations and anxiety your are feeling right now and encourage you to deal with this difficult worldwide scare in a healthy way. Now is the time to lean on your good friends and let them lean back on you, too. Watch this Video 5 Reasons Why You Need to Stay Socially Connected While Being Physically Distant Because of COVID-19 Do you feel like anxiety is getting the best of you? We know how it feels to be overwhelmed by life. That’s why I offer a safe space for people who need someone to talk to, someone who will listen and help them find their way again. My goal is to help my clients find peace in their lives through counseling and coaching sessions that are tailored to each individual's needs. You deserve more than just an average life coach - you deserve someone who will walk with you on your journey to emotional wellness! Allow me to be there for you when things get tough and let us show you what true happiness looks like. Click the free consultation box below! Book features this week:
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 The COVID-19 pandemic has been brutal on the state of mental health in Americans. You’ve been limited to how you can celebrate birthdays, graduations, and weddings. You’ve seen loved ones hooked up to a ventilator fighting for their lives. You’ve got an entire hygienic routine every time you leave the house: Wear a mask, stay six feet apart, wash your hands, and repeat. Here’s what you can do to protect your mental health during this ongoing pandemic. Get Some Exercise You don’t have to go to the gym to stay in shape. There are plenty of exercises and routines that you can do from the comfort of your living room. That includes activities like push-ups, jumping jacks, burpees, and even going for a nice jog around the block. On top of building your endurance and strength, exercise can trigger the release of endorphins in your system. According to the Mayo Clinic, these are known as the “feel-good” hormone and will naturally boost a low mood during such trying times. Stay in Contact With Loved Ones Not being able to meet with those you care about can be detrimental to your mental health. Prolonged loneliness and social isolation can increase your risk of certain mental health disorders, substance abuse issues, or even suicide. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that loneliness in older adults increases the risk of dementia and other serious health disorders. The best way to avoid these consequences is by staying in touch with loved ones via daily or weekly phone calls, video calls, or text messages. Leave the House Most states still have limitations regarding where you can go, what you can do, and who you can see. Yet, at this point in the pandemic, you realize that your mood declines, and you feel fatigued the longer you stay put in the house. In a study published in Issues in Mental Health Nursing, vitamin D, which the body can absorb from sunlight, is a great mood booster and is used to treat depression. So, if you’re feeling down and lonely in the house, spend some time in the backyard or go for a walk at the park before your fellow citizens get there. Reach Out to a Therapist If you were already struggling with your mental health before the pandemic, there’s a good chance that your situation has worsened as the months continued. Luckily, most mental health facilities' forced closure doesn’t mean that you currently have no access to care. Many counselors, therapists, and psychiatrists have moved to telemedicine for the time being. Scheduling an appointment with a therapist via video call is a great way to process your emotions and learn how to cope. Get a Pet Most people would appreciate coming home from work every day to be greeted by a friendly dog or cat. But when loneliness and sadness become excessive during quarantine, a pet may be exactly what you need to feel better. Even better, you may be able to help empty your local animal shelter. The connection between pet ownership and mental health has been long studied. In fact, a survey conducted by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, mental health improvements were seen in about 74% of pet owners. Final Thoughts During a pandemic that doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon, you must prioritize your mental health. Not only will this make you feel less lonely and like you have a greater purpose, but it’ll also save you from a ton of emotional turmoil that you’ll have to sort through once COVID-19 is gone for good. |
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