The Coronavirus is on the headlines of every major news source, and this new virus has taken the world by storm with its rapid spread. People are concerned as this epidemic came out of the blue, and no reliable measures have been discovered to contain this virus yet. Though scientists and researchers are working day and night to find a cure, self-quarantine and social distancing are being implemented as the only preventive measures for the time being.

The governments are urging people to stay home, take precautionary measures, and only go out if it’s absolutely necessary. The isolation, sudden changes in routine, and the fears associated with this outbreak have had severe impacts on the lives of people, especially their mental health.

Before we get into keeping up our mental health, let’s quickly go through some quarantine safety measures to make sure you stay safe. I know, I know, you heard a lot… But Still:

The Quarantine Rules We Need to Follow

● Frequently was your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or with regular soap and water. Palms are often more subjected to being in contact with infected things, so keeping your hands clean will help stop the spread of the virus.
● Maintain social distancing of at least 3 feet. Also, avoid being around anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
● Do not touch your eyes, mouth, or nose because if your hands are contaminated, touching these vulnerable areas can quicken the spread of this disease.
● Practice respiratory hygiene such as wearing face masks, covering your mouth and nose, try to sneeze in your flexed elbow, so you don’t spread the droplets and contaminate others.
● If you have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, seek medical care instantly and follow the advice given by the medical professionals.

My Experience So Far

Luckily, I’m one of the fortunate ones who have the opportunity to work from home. It’s day 11 of isolation for me, at the time of this writing, and I’m doing perfectly. I still enjoy every bit of my day. I can be lazy whenever I want, and I still have time for some productive work. I’m working 8 hours a day, and I try to work as much as I can on my blog. Luckily, I don’t have to force myself. I have all the time in the world right now. If I’m not in the mood, I just play some video games or check Netflix for some fun new content. Oh, and my shelves are full of great titles that need some attention. Now finally, I’ll have the time to do some serious reading/learning.

I’m aware that these are hard times for a lot of people, but I’m sure that many people make it much harder for themselves. How you handle this crisis depends on you. You can choose to be sad about all the happenings, or you can see all the great opportunities this situation presents to you.

How to Stay Mentally Healthy in These Tough Times?

During this quarantine period, it is vital to maintain a healthy state of mind and also look at a few opportunities this situation has presented us with. We can’t do anything about the situation we all have to face, but we are all in full control how we react and how we handle our life in the next couple of weeks/months. A challenging period is ahead of us, but if manage to keep our mind clean and healthy, we can face whatever life brings.

So, let’s take a look at a few strategies that can help us maintain our mental health and how we can use this time to our advantage.

1. Filter Your News Intake

Let’s start with the main culprit for our anxieties. Many people have resorted to their digital devices more than ever due to this quarantine period. And nothing’s more trending on social media other than the Coronavirus itself. Sitting home all day and doing nothing but watching the exaggerated news about the Covid-19 is only going to make your anxiety spiral out of control.

There is also lots of misinformation going around on the internet, which will only increase your worries. So limit the time you spend watching such news and schedule your time for worrying. Only get time to time updates from government or trusted news sources and try not to overthink the situation too much.

2. Bring some variety into your routine

Most of us are digital nomads, and this quarantine has further reinforced our screen usage. Waking up and spending all your day on Netflix and social media can cause agitation, even burnout for many people. So, turn off your laptop for a while and see what other things can be done around your house.

Try to incorporate a variety of different tasks into your routine. Think about the home improvements you’ve been procrastinating on for so long, and maybe now’s the time to do them. Stay clean by taking regular showers or even take part in cleaning your room and explore other aspects of your life that you’ve meant to work on.

3. Anticipate some tension

You have experienced a sudden disruption from your daily life routine. Not only your professional life, but your outgoing, fun activities are also on hold due to the Corona Virus. Because of this sudden change in routine and social isolation, you are bound to experience some dissatisfaction and agitation during these days, and it’s completely normal.

Likewise, you will also feel this with your relationships, such as your spouse and children. Be observant of the behavior of yourself and others and understand that you will face such mood swings in this period. Try to avoid having any heated arguments with people near you and be kind and calm with others.

4. View this quarantine as an opportunity

When was the last time you took time-off without explaining a hundred things to your boss? Was it ever this easy to get a vacation without having to make lots of arrangements? Probably not. So see this as the ultimate opportunity to get proper sleep and watch your favorite shows back to back without having to worry about anything.

Although, no doubt, these quarantine days are no vacations, but look at this as a chance to finally relax and take a break from your daily grind. This isolation is a good time for you to unwind, so don’t see it as a burden, rather a pause from your everyday life routines and spend it doing the things you wanted to do for so long.

5. Stay Connected

If used the right way, social media can help us go through this epidemic more easily. Now’s a great time to spark a conversation with your old friends through Facebook and see how their life’s been going so far. Stay connected to your loved ones through the internet. Stay in touch with your friends via social media, so you don’t feel lonely or get bored.

Reinvigorate your bonds with your spouse and family members and appreciate the relationships you have. You can still virtually hang out with your friends by playing multiplayer videogames from the comfort of your room. It’ll help you keep occupied and stay distracted from the negativity that’s been going around due to this virus.

6. Restructure Your Life

Now’s the time to sit down, relax, and think about life. This quarantine has presented us with a short pause to stop and rethink our life decisions. Step back and make an analysis of how your life is going at the moment. Is it the way you want it to be? Or do you want to live in a different way? What problems have been bogging you down in the past few months? Utilize this time to have a serious talk with yourself about how you’re living.

Put some thought into it, and you might come up with ideas to improve your professional, personal, or marriage life. Take out a pen and paper and write down your thoughts and concerns. In this abundance of free time, it’s a great idea to rethink how you’ve been spending your life and coming up with ways to restructure yourself for the better.

7. Polish yourself

Now’s the time to fill in the gaps and improve where you lack. You have a lot of free time on your hands to practice the skills you wanted to develop but never had the time to. Make a list of skills you want to learn. Ask yourself, where do you fall behind? After you come up with a few highlighted issues, make a plan, and start working on them.

Reading is a great tool to sharpen your mind. You can buy soft copies of the books online, or if you don’t feel like reading, you can even listen to audiobooks, whichever you prefer. Learn mindfulness meditation, as it can help you fight stress and improve focus. There’s also the option of watching tutorials and video lectures, and you can find tons of sources available online, both paid and free. So, use this leisure time to work on yourself so you can leave this quarantine as an improved person.

8. Work on your physical health

If you have home workout equipment, now might be the best time to utilize it. Staying physically active during the quarantine can help you fight boredom, stay physically fit, and improve your overall mood. Take active breaks during the day, such as after every four waking hours or before taking a shower. You can try pushups, squats, running in place, or even skip ropes if you have them.

A heap of home workout tutorials are available on YouTube that don’t require any special equipment and can be done in very low space as well. Also, pay attention to what you eat and try to consume foods that will boost your immune system as this virus is more dangerous for people that have a weaker immune system. If you’re a smoker, this might be an excellent opportunity for you to break the habit and leave this addiction for good. Working on your physique will help you stay fit both physically and mentally.

The Takeaway

This too, shall pass. Scientists and researchers from all over the world are working day and night to find a cure, and hopefully, this quarantine will lift soon. Staying home can be hard after a while, but it depends on your thinking how hard it is. Take care of yourself by following the quarantine safety rules and see it as an opportunity to relax, unwind, and polish your personality so that you can go through this quarantine in a healthy and stress-free way. If you learn how to stay mentally healthy during this period, no challenge will be to hard in the future.