Safeguarding Your Mental Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic

We now find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic and the uncertainty that goes along with it. Now more than ever it is important to safeguard our own mental health and look out for our children, loved ones, and the vulnerable. In times of heightened individual and community stress, it can feel impossible to remain calm.

Prolonged stress isn’t good for our mental and physical wellbeing, and most importantly given the current circumstances, increased or prolonged stress can compromise our immune systems. In today’s post, we share some tips to help the Georgetown Texas community cope with the many changes we are undergoing at this time.

Let’s find out more!

1 - Reframe “I Am Stuck at Home” to “I Can Finally Focus on My Home and Myself”

Focus on long-avoided tasks, reorganize a room or closet, or start a new creative activity or hobby you’ve been thinking about off and on. This is an opportunity to slow down and focus on yourself and your family.

2 - Stay Close to Your Normal Routine

Try and maintain some semblance of structure from the pre-quarantine days. For example, try to wake up and go to bed around the same time, eat meals, shower, adapt your exercise regimen, and get out of your pajamas. Do laundry on Sundays as usual. Not only will sticking to your normal routine keep you active and less likely to spiral, it will also be easier to readjust to the outside world when it’s time to get back to work.

3 - Avoid Watching or Reading Excessive Coronavirus Coverage

Choosing only certain credible websites (cdc.gov is a good start) for a limited amount of time each day, and take time to watch enjoyable shows or read a book you’ve been wanting to read. Youtube has extensive videos on yoga, pilates, Zumba and aerobics.

4 - Start a New Quarantine Ritual

With this newfound time, why not do something special during these quarantined days? Maybe take a walk every morning, connect with a loved-one over FaceTime every morning, or start a craft project or painting which you can add to every day. Having something special during this time will help you look forward to each new day.

5 - Use Telehealth as an Option to Talk to a Professional If Your Anxiety Becomes Unmanageable

At Georgetown Counseling and Wellness, we are offering telehealth sessions over HIPAA-compliant video chat platforms. Remember to reach out for help if your anxiety or feelings of loneliness and isolation are becoming unmanageable. Call us at (512) 400-4247.

6 - Practice Relaxation Techniques Such as Mindfulness Meditation

Lastly, we recommend three free apps that have many different guided and silent meditations, both short and long; Calm, Headspace and Insight Timer. You can access more relaxation advice, including the benefits of living in the present moment in our previous blog post.

At Georgetown Counseling and Wellness we provide a compassionate space for you to tell your story and fully acknowledge your reality, utilizing proven treatment techniques. In light of COVID-19, we are now offering telehealth sessions over HIPAA-compliant video chat platforms. If you would like to know more about our services, please don’t hesitate to reach out. (512) 400-4247.