Emotional Health During COVID-19

Emotional Health During COVID-19

With the continued spread of COVID-19, or Coronavirus, there has been a lot of focus on physical health but very little on emotional health. At first glance it may not seem like a big deal since COVID-19 is not as deadly as some diseases and the symptoms are kind of like the flu. But with an average transmission rate 2-3 times higher than the flu and a mortality rate in confirmed cases that is 35 times higher than the flu, it is no wonder that our communities have taken big measures to manage the outbreak.

Below are some stressors you may face and some ideas you can use to help you, and your loved ones, emotionally cope.

Helping Yourself Loneliness

One of the biggest concerns an individual, especially a single individual, might have with social distance is loneliness. There have been studies to suggest that social isolation and loneliness impact health in “the same order and magnitude as such risk factors as high blood pressure, obesity, and smoking.”

Boredom, Anxiety, and Stress Another factor you may have to personally manage is boredom, anxiety, or stress.

Boredom because you can’t go out and do the same things, obviously. Anxiety because of the uncertainty of the situation and worrying about the health of yourself or others, among other things. And stress because of being out of work or working from home, finances, and supplies.

Working from Home A final stressor I’ll mention is working from home. For many of us, this is brand new, uncharted territory. And depending on your attention levels and work style, this may be extremely difficult. Feeling like you are constantly in work mode, feeling unmotivated to work at all, or distracting yourself every few minutes are some of the problems that can come up.

Here are some tips to manage: 1. Wake up and do your full getting ready routine just like you normally would.

Yes, you could sit there in pajamas all day, but are you really going to feel like working? Probably not.

2. Start work at the same time every day and schedule regular breaks. Keeping yourself in a routine with work allows you to stay in that work mindset longer.

Helping Your Relationship Being stuck together at home most of the time is not always ideal. While some couples may love the togetherness, others may find they are getting irritated easily and fights are becoming more common. This is especially true if you were already having

relationship issues to begin with.

Too Much Togetherness This one is primarily for the couples that live together. The simple solution to too much togetherness is to take some time apart. You might be stuck home together but that does not mean you have to be together.

Keeping It Fun Keeping the romance and fun alive is important for every relationship. With so many places closed, it may feel like the fun is closed too. A little planning and thinking outside the box can help you keep the spark alive. Here are some ideas ranging from full-blown romance to silly fun. ● Flower petals on the bed, wine, romantic music… you get the picture. ● Search minute-to-win-it games online and compete for the title of Best in House, literally.

Connect About The Big Things You are stuck in the same place so you are obviously going to talk, but be intentional with what you are talking about.

Family Routine Social distancing with kids is a whole different challenge because not only do you have to worry about your own sanity, maybe your relationship, but also your kids’ activities and learning. Here are some ideas to help you manage: 1. Establish a routine: Similar to the work from home situation, continue to get your kids up and ready like they would on any other day. When school does resume, it won’t be so difficult to get them back in the routine quickly. But beyond just getting them up and ready, set up blocks of time for certain activities, similar to how it would be in school.

2. Outside time – As mentioned above, being outside can have great benefits for health and overall mood. Aim to go outside once or twice a day, weather permitting, to blow off steam and burn energy.

In Summary We are in unprecedented territory with the social distancing, quarantine, and isolation required for this pandemic. Emotional health is key for our well-being, so don’t forget it in this most crucial time. Best wishes to stay safe, healthy, and happy! Comment below with ideas you have for keeping yourself or your loved ones emotionally healthy during this time!

If you are interested to know more about Emotional health, then contact us: Website: https://principleskills.com/ Phone Number: +1-719-494-7412 E-mail Id: caralee@principleskills.com