How To Mind Your Mental Health While Keeping Your Distance

There are so many ways to occupy yourself and keep your mind off Covid-19 while keeping your distance. These are just some tips and tricks that I find have really been helping me lately. So hopefully some of these ideas will help you get through this isolation and help you to remain positive.
We’re social creatures by nature, so self-isolating is incredibly hard. Here’s how to mind your mental health while keeping your distance.

• Colouring books, mindfulness colouring, paint by numbers – any of these really help me to get out of my own head and stop thinking constantly about what’s going on outside. They’re especially great for de-stressing and I find they’re very calming because you don’t need too much concentration.
• Zoom is a fantastic way to stay in contact with friends and family.
• Go for a walk or spend some time outside. Getting fresh air is a great way to clear your head and as long as you keep your distance from others, it is completely fine.
• If you can, I would highly recommend Disney+ as it has already helped me take my mind off everything Covid-19 related but lots of people have unfortunately lost their jobs at this time so maybe a few friends could get it together or even go back to the old days and watch some classics on DVD. There is also a 7 day free trail.
• Let’s not forget about Netflix either, an equally great option with lots of great TV shows and movies to watch. For more ideas check out some of our movie/tv show recommendations.
• If you haven’t had a lot of time recently, try use this time wisely and practise some old hobbies you may have forgotten about such as playing a sport or an instrument.
• Exercise is a great way to clear your mind. There are lots of home workout tutorials available on Youtube if you don’t feel like going for a walk or run – we put a list together of some of our favourites.
• Baking. There are so many different things you can bake so get creative. If you would like to try a new cookie recipe, you can find the one I use here.
• Be productive and clean out your wardrobe/bedroom and don’t forget to help your parents around the house with chores also. Every little thing you do, helps them a lot.
• Reading is very calming and relaxing. Immersing yourself in a book can take your mind off Covid-19 and transport you somewhere else which we could all use right now. You can rent e-books online if you don’t have access to your own as libraries are closed.
• Duolingo is a great way to improve existing language skills and learn new languages.
• Make a list of things you plan to do once life is back to normal. It can be a small as going for a coffee with a friend or planning a holiday. Whatever is on your list, this will help you stay focused, positive and hopeful and it will give you something to look forward to.

These ideas may not work for everybody, but I find them especially helpful at this time. There are so many ways to keep busy while staying at home.
Everyone’s in the same boat right now and no one wants to be stuck at home but it’s not a choice at the minute so every time you think about putting yourself or others at risk please think of your own parents, grandparents or friends. Try to see things from the perspective of a family member or friend who has already lost someone to Covid-19 and think about how that would make you feel.
And please remember to be kind, especially on social media. People are using their phones and their socials more than usual right now so try to remember you never know what’s going on in someone’s head. If you don’t have something nice to say to someone, don’t say anything at all.
I know it’s a scary and uncertain time for everyone but please remember to be safe, check in on your loved ones and stay positive. We’ll all get through this.
What are you doing to mind your mental health while in self-isolation?