Coronavirus and Caring for Your Emotional Wellbeing

As stay-at-home orders and social distancing continue, our emotional wellbeing may be taking a toll. The news is rampant with stories about suicide and depression rates, seniors alone in senior care facilities, lonely birthdays, overworked essential workers, and isolated individuals. We must get creative to reduce stress. And even if you aren’t feeling the strain, someone you know might. Check on them regularly.

Try Yoga or Meditation

In addition to the exercise benefit, yoga also focuses on emotional wellbeing as part of its practice. Learn new breathing techniques that expand the peacefulness of the mind. Check out these yoga studios offering free classes during this time: 

https://www.corepoweryogaondemand.com/keep-up-your-practice

https://www.doyogawithme.com/

https://www.aimhealthyu.com/courses/masterclass-5-colleen-saidman-yee

Hold Family & Friends Video Conferences

While we may be physically apart, this doesn’t mean we can’t see our loved ones’ faces still. Use technology to your advantage. Set a standard time to video conference with each other. There are so many options available to us today for free: Skype, Apple FaceTime, Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Facebook Messenger. 

Enjoy a Relaxing Bath

Do you remember the old Calgon commercials? “Calgon, take me away!” followed by someone taking a luxurious bath. Treat yourself to an hour of luxury. Light candles, play soothing music, and take a bubble bath. Using ingredients found in a grocery store, you can make your own bath bombs. Here is a great recipe:

https://www.popsci.com/how-to-make-your-own-bath-bombs/

Learn Something New

With all this time on our hands, now is the time to learn something new. Whether it’s a new language, a new recipe, how to sew, learn to draw, or how to garden, there are free online videos to help you expand your mind and knowledge.

Create a Sleep Sanctuary

The stress of this illness is keeping many people awake, and social distancing/ stay-at-home orders are throwing off our routines. Refrain from doing anything in your bedroom other than sleeping. Keep all TV and online watching to your living areas to eliminate the exposure to blue light in your bedroom. Turn off notifications on your devices so your sleep isn’t disturbed. Diffuse lavender into your bedroom to promote relaxation.

While it’s a trying and scary time for all of us, know that you aren’t alone. We are all in this together. If you are experiencing emotional distress related to COVID-19 call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to speak to a caring counselor or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.