This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at ASU chapter.
Many individuals are enduring added stressors due to the pandemic, which can negatively affect your mental health. Right now, more than ever, it’s crucial to remember to take care of your mental health. I’ve added ten tips that can assist you in decreasing your stress and improve your mental health.
- Remember to take your vitamins/medications as prescribed.
Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels - Practice good sleep hygiene by implementing a sleep schedule. Research by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has revealed that an inconsistent sleep schedule can negatively affect an individual’s cognitive capabilities such as decision making and problem-solving, as well as impairing their overall mental health. The Sleep Foundation provides tips on how someone can improve their sleep hygiene.
- Drink 6-8 glasses of water every day.
- Make sure you remember to take time to relax. Life can be hectic with school, work, and other obligations, and sometimes we get so caught up in our busy lives that we neglect to take time to do activities that we enjoy. These activities can include baking, reading a book, or watching a show we enjoy.
- Reach out to someone you care about like a friend or loved one. Research has shown that connecting with others, instead of isolating, can improve an individual’s resilience when they experience set-backs in life.
- Exercise! Sometimes just going outside for a quick walk and fresh air can do wonders for your mental health and improve your mood!
- Remember to be easy on yourself! Quarantine is challenging enough by itself. Being productive doesn’t mean you need to do something every single moment every single day. Give yourself a break!
- Spend at least 30 minutes outside in the sun each day. Sunshine helps reduce stress and can help with some of the symptoms of depression.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez from Unsplash - Don’t feel guilty about limiting your time on social media or your cell phone. Unadd or unfollow people on social media that make you feel bad. Decreasing your time spent on social media can improve your mood.
- Schedule time to relax. Whether it’s requesting a day off work each month, or just planning to turn off your phone for a day and take a break from homework.
