How to Stay Sane During The COVID-19 Pandemic

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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a rollercoaster of emotions. The government and media have fueled both fear and optimism, as many unknowns collide in a confusing narrative influenced by political parties and conspiracy theories. It’s enough to cause a mental health crisis even for those least vulnerable to the virus. That is why it is important to maintain positive mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. It takes some conscious effort, but you can stay sane during these worrisome times by taking the following actions. 

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5 Ways to Maintain Positive Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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1. Eat a Healthy Diet

What you put into your body comes out of your body in more ways than one. Processed foods, alcohol, and other unhealthy ingestibles stress your mind, your gut, and your metabolism. Many people neglect healthy eating habits when there is a crisis, but this pandemic is lasting too long to use it as an excuse for unhealthy choices. Mental health requires a clear mind, and eating poorly creates brain fog. It’s understandable to turn to snacks and other vices when things are uncertain, but it can have significant negative consequences. 

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2. Maintain a Consistent Schedule

When you are staying at home, it’s easy to remain in your pajamas all day, stay up late at night, and sleep in every morning. Pretty soon, being productive is no longer a reality. Even if you are going to work, getting up early and maintaining a steady sleep-wake cycle is good for your mental health because it fortifies life’s natural rhythm. 

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3. Exercise Regularly

Elevating your heart rate is good for cardiovascular health, but exercise also reduces stress and depression. A gym membership can do wonders for your physical and mental health. If you can exercise outdoors, even better. The sun will provide Vitamin D that protects your immune system. 

4. Take a Break from the News

Between the news media, the election, and social media, there’s a lot of ugly on the internet. Many people require some connection to the online world in order to perform job duties, but everyone can benefit from a break. Unplug, even if only for a couple hours a day. Your mind will thank you.

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5. End Toxic Relationships

Lastly, don’t try to hang on to toxic relationships. If you have someone in your life that is berating your choices during COVID-19 or who generally makes you feel bad about yourself, cut them out. Life is too short to waste energy on these people. Take care of yourself by requiring respect from everyone in your inner circle.

Positive Mental Health and Happiness are Possible, Even During the Pandemic

It is important to remember during this pandemic that positive mental health and happiness are possible during this time. The news is filled with tales of “unprecedented” and “dark” times, but you can still maintain your peace of mind, and your world can be whatever you choose to make it. Times can be hard, but taking care of yourself ensures the best possible outcomes. To stay up to date on the latest healthcare news, follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog.

To learn more about how to maintain positive health, enroll in the course entitled, “How to Prevent Medical Conditions Caused by TOXIC People in Your Life (and Be Healthier!)” offered by Avidity Medical Design Academy.

How to Help Patients Deal with Loneliness and Isolation During COVID-19

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If you are a healthcare provider who works directly with patients who have been admitted to the hospital or a long-term care facility for other reasons, but have not been diagnosed with COVID-19, you’ve seen how some patients are dealing with isolation and loneliness due to COVID-19 restrictions. They are living under trying and stressful conditions as healthcare providers take steps to protect patients, as well as themselves, from contracting the COVID-19 virus. Here are some ways to lift patient spirits and keep them from becoming depressed as everyone tries to deal with COVID-19 restrictions.

Here are five things that you can do to help patients feel less isolated:

1. If you know your patient’s family members and friends, and they visit the patient regularly in the hospital, remind the patient of something good about a family member or friend, such as mentioning how talented a grandson is at playing football, or how much a friend likes orchids. These positive memories remind the patient of life and love, and put their emotions back into a place of connection rather than separation.

2. Encourage patients to reach out more to their loved ones by making phone calls and writing letters to family members and friends. As the world has changed, people have become more open to connecting through different ways. Suggesting that the patient write a letter to family members and friends can improve the patient’s state of mind and overall well-being, and help them feel less lonely and isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Take the time to call one of the patient’s family members or friends to let them know what’s going on. When you reach out to other family members and friends on the patient’s behalf, the patient feels less isolated and more connected as they try to deal with the health challenges that surround the era of COVID-19.

4. Whenever possible, encourage patients to talk to other patients or get involved with social activities that are sanctioned by the healthcare facility. Any social engagement can help patients feel more involved and less isolated.

5. For patients who are bedridden and can’t move around much, give them an uplifting novel to read, or a craft or creative activity that they can do right from their beds, such as making a card or adult coloring.

There are many ways to lift each patient’s spirits. Sometimes they just need to hear about something other than their internal thoughts. The more we talk to them, smile, and make them laugh, the better they’ll feel.

To learn more tips on patient health and wellness during this trying time, follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog.

Avidity Medical Design Academy also offers valuable, engaging online healthcare courses that you can take in your spare time. To enroll or find out more, click here.

Six-Part Health Series (Part 2): 10 Ways to Protect Your *Mental* Health

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It is easy for us to concentrate on our physical health when we see problems. If we are starting to gain more weight, we can watch what we eat more carefully. If we have the flu, we can see our doctor and help to curb some of the symptoms. It is a lot harder for us to recognize when our mental health is suffering. However, our mental health is just as important, and can actually impact our physical health. 

Our mental health affects our daily lives by influencing how we feel, think, and even how we behave. So often, we think that mental health only refers to a person that is experiencing a mental illness. In actuality, we all need to concentrate on our mental health to protect the positive characteristics that help us to thrive in today’s world.  

Here are 10 ways that you can start to protect your mental health in 2020:

1. Find a Therapist

Couple speaking to therapist regarding mental health issues. From the Avidity Medical Design Blog.
Couple speaking to therapist regarding mental health issues.

When we get a physical illness, we see our doctor. Adding a behavioral health expert to your team can help you to maximize your mental health and find ways that work for you to deal with stress in daily living.

2. Set Boundaries

Learning to say “No” is an important skill for your mental well being. Decide what is most important to you and use that knowledge to prioritize requests from others. Determine what to delegate or negotiate when you are asked to commit your time and energy to something that isn’t important to you.

3. Spend Time in Nature

Connecting with nature helps our bodies to relax and appreciate the world around us. So, find some time to get outside and let your mind and body recharge.

4. Laugh Out Loud

Have you noticed how often kids laugh out loud? Now, think about the last time that you allowed yourself the same outlet. Humor is a great stress reliever, and the physical action of laughing out loud makes the perfect mind and body connection.

5. Give Yourself a Pep Talk

Have you noticed that the voice in your head is a lot more critical to you than you would ever be to a friend of yours? Learning to be more positive in our self-talk is an important skill in mental health. Check out this Ted Talk video on how to improve positive thinking

6. Be Grateful for What is Going Well in Your Life

Taking time to appreciate the positives in our lives is another important skill. At the end of each day, take a moment to list 3 things that you are grateful for today.

7. Connect with Others

A group of students keeping in contact with other people online. From The Avidity Medical Design Blog.
A group of students keeping in contact with other people online.

Make time to keep in touch with people who are special to you. A phone call to chat with someone can change your mental outlook.

8. Take a Daily Break

Start a pattern of taking a daily break to recharge. This can be anything from doing meditation to singing out loud in the car or taking some time to read a book. Look for something that will fit into your day and break up the pattern of building stress.

9. Get More Sleep

Making sleep, nutrition, and exercise a priority in your life is another building block to positive mental health. 

10. Try Something New

When you find it hard to motivate yourself to work on your mental health, try to do something completely new for you. Your mind will kick into overdrive by concentrating on learning this new activity. Trying something new can change your daily routine for the better.

The mind and body connection is an important bond for all of us. Taking time to work on protecting your mental health is an important step in your well-being. To learn more about different health subjects, follow the Avidity Medical Design Blog.