Mental Health & Wellness Tips for Covid-19 Quarantine
1. Stick to a routine:
- Sleep and wake up at a reasonable time.
- Make a schedule for work, self-care and family time.
2. Eat Healthy:
- Eat a healthy diet and limit caffeine.
- Diet that is good for your physical health is also good for your mental health.
3. Disconnect to Reconnect:
- Disconnect from all the negative information and stress. Reconnect with family and friends through face time, skype, texting etc.
- Connect with other people to seek and provide support and spread positivity.
4. Develop a self-care tool Kit :
- This can vary from person to person. Involve sensory components (senses – touch, taste, sight, audio, smell, vestibular – movements’ and proprioceptive-comforting pressure). An idea for each – a soft blanket or a soft toy, hot chocolate, photos of family vacation, soothing music, lavender or eucalyptus oil, rocking chair or a small swing etc.
5. Find a Space to retreat:
- In your home find a place which is comforting and cozy for you to relax and unwind.
- For children a fort made of bedsheets in corner of the house will be a great place to retreat.
6. Focus on safety and attachment:
- Make sure you and your family follow the safety rules mentioned by the health ministry.
- Focus on strengthening the connection with your family by spending quality time with them. (Through play, therapeutic books, watching movies and preparing meals together).
7. Remind yourself that this is temporary:
- Take time to remind yourself that, though this is scary and difficult, this may go on for an undetermined amount of time, it is a season of life and it will pass.
- We will return to feeling free, safe, busy and connected in the days ahead.
8. Get in Control:
- In moments of big uncertainty find a way to control your little corner of the world. Organize your bookshelf and kitchen purge your closet, put together your furniture.
- This will help to anchor and ground you when the bigger things are chaotic.
9. Live in present:
- Meeting deadlines at work and home front will be overwhelming, but we must remember that these are unpredictable times and our expectations should be realistic.
- Being stuck in the past or worrying about the future is bad for your mental health.
- Reduce stress by learning to fully appreciate what’s right in front of you.
10. Notice the good in the world and help others:
- Instead of focusing on the negative information about the pandemic, focus on the stories of people sacrificing, donating and supporting one another in miraculous ways.
- Find ways, big and small, to give back to others.
11. Learn a lesson:
- There are many lessons that we can learn in big and small ways. We need to bring change in ourselves, our homes, our communities and our nation.
- Get in touch with a psychologist or a therapist to help you deal with stress and get potential positive outcomes in the current situation.
12. Reach out:
- If you are having difficulty coping, don’t hesitate from seeking help.
- There is help and support out there any time of the day- although we are physically distant, we can always connect virtually.
- Seek support groups of neighbours and friends to feel connected.
- We at Islaah provide virtual clinical consultations offline in this hour of need. You can reach us at – Phone Number / Mail Id.
