As we all know, during the pandemic reports of increased anxiety and depression are all over the news, with some reporting a threefold increase in depression. It’s likely to be a long time before the full extent of the COVID-19 mental health crisis is known.
We’re all feeling the effects of uncertainty. But there are ways we can help keep our mental health in shape, even during this difficult time.
Exercise
For a lot of us, lockdown meant an exercise drought. Now that we’re a year into the pandemic we all need to get outside and move our bodies. Exercise helps tire your body to improve sleep and releases endorphins that improve your mood.
Going outside for a walk gives you exercise and relief from being isolated inside as well as the obvious draw of breathing in clean, fresh air. If you’re out of shape from quarantine, take it slow, but make a commitment to your fitness. Making a goal and taking physical steps to reach it helps us to feel a sense of achievement, a feeling that has evaded many of us over the past year.
Sleep
Getting adequate sleep rests both your body and mind. Your mind processes the activities and emotions of the day. During times of external stress, sleep allows you time to heal from painful emotional experiences.
Maximise your nightly rest by sticking to a bedtime routine, avoiding caffeine later in the day, and turning off electronics at least an hour before you go to bed.
Diet
Nutrition isn’t just about a healthy body; it’s also about a resilient mind. There have been studies linking the brain to the gut, showing us how important it is to eat well.
The best way for your diet to bolster your mental health is to fill it with fruits and vegetables, nuts and beans, and complex carbohydrates. These foods contain the vitamins and minerals linked to decreased anxiety and depression.
Reducing caffeine consumption, processed foods, and sugar intake can also help calm your anxious mind.
Your mind and body are powerfully linked. Take extra care of body basics to help fortify your mental health.
