Here are 5 ways to improve your mental health during times of crisis

It is a well-established fact that mental health is as important as physical health. This awareness has been largely brought about by covid-19, which has been an eye-opener for most of us. After all, never did we imagine a crisis of this magnitude to hit our lives. It’s been over a year, and uncertainty still looms large over us. It has taken a toll on our mental health, because we fear the unknown, and in this case, there seems no end in sight. 

So, what do we do? Do we just sit and wait it out to see if things get better? Or do we take charge and try to make our situation better? We think the latter is a good idea! But then again, how do you improve mental health? Well, here are five ways in which you can improve your mental health, even in times of crisis: 

1. Move, move, move

We agree it’s hard to move, especially when you’re not in the best mood. But guess what? It’s going to help you a great deal. You could go for cardio or pick up a strength training move—whatever you do, it will fill you with more energy, which is important to lead a happy and successful life. In fact, research suggests that regular exercise is associated with a reduced risk of depression and anxiety, and also improves brain health. Even if you’re busy, take some time out and get some fresh air. 

2. Try to change your routine

Again, we know this sounds hard, because it’s a crisis, and how are you going to feel like doing anything? Well, when you shake up your routine, you’re going to discover endless opportunities. You could try out a new form of exercise, take up a new hobby or just pick up reading (we know most of us find it hard to!), you’ll see the kind of difference it makes to your life. Your productivity will increase and how! 

3. Talk to people

A global health crisis like coronavirus has forced us to stay cooped up at home, for our own safety. But as social beings, we know how hard it can be to not see your BFF or your group of girls. Well, you can still speak about your feelings and release your emotions to someone you trust. It could be your family or your closest friends; just get on a Zoom call and speak your heart out. Trust us, you’ll feel a lot better. 

4. Take break from news and social media

We live in an age where we are compelled to stay connected at all times! That can be hard, and without even realising, we put immense pressure on our minds. How about doing a short social media detox? Or if that’s too hard, you could try and stop reading the news. These might seem like big steps, but they’ll go a long way to help you get your mental health back on track. 

5. Start journaling

You might have several fears and concerns floating in your head, but if you keep thinking about them, you’re bound to have sleepless nights! That’s exactly why you could spend time journaling your thoughts at the end of every day. Make a list of all your fears, and also all the good things that happened during the day. This exercise is going to take your mind off from all the negativity!