Taking care of my health (not only in time of COVID-19)

The global situation related to COVID-19 undoubtedly represents an unprecedented challenge. This phenomenon compromises all of us in one way or another, but the way in which it affects us is different for each one of us.

As mental health professionals we want to share five recommendations aimed at turning the current scenario into an opportunity for personal growth. Our objective is to communicate that these are some tools that we can continue practicing once the period of confinement is over. Therefore, this is a time when with effort and dedication, we can acquire new habits that will promote our well-being.

1. Organized routine, clear mind. As a first suggestion, we recommend prioritizing our activities, writing down chores and trying to stick as closely as possible to the schedules we establish. In this way, we will not only feel more productive, but in fact, we will be.
   Let’s release endorphins in thirty minutes. By spending at least half an hour a day doing some physical activity, with time and practice we can experience a sense of well-being and keep our bodies moving.
   Ritual and sleep conditions. To get a more restful sleep, we suggest setting a specific time to sleep and another to get out of bed. Likewise, we recommend restricting the use of electronic devices at least thirty minutes before bedtime, so a strategy that will help us fall asleep better is to read a book or physical document for pleasure. By following these recommendations we will be avoiding having problems that deprive us of a well-deserved rest. In addition to focusing on the quality of sleep, if you want to check how many hours of sleep are recommended according to your age, you can check the following link: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/press-release/national-sleep-foundation-recommends-new-sleep-times.
2. In addition, we recommend keeping a journal in which we identify our thoughts, emotions, and learning. Why is this important? Surely you have noticed that during certain moments you feel overwhelmed by a particular emotion, but later you feel completely different. By keeping track of our emotions, we will be more in touch with ourselves. This documentation will even be the best reference so that in the future we can review our notes that narrate how we live and overcome this situation. We even suggest that in this record you write down something new that you learned during the day. We see here another opportunity for personal growth.
   Social networks are valuable tools to maintain our personal ties. Thus, we suggest a healthy virtual sociability, which includes asking about our loved ones, sharing the strategies we use and the concerns we have. This last point is especially relevant because waiting for mental health problems like anxiety or depression to go away on their own can lead to worsening symptoms. For this reason we can encourage asking for help when we need it. Learning to request support is an act of courage and humility, this being a recommendation that allows us to discover new tools and forge stronger human ties. In the long term, this action will be useful for us to be more aware of ourselves and also be more willing to help others when they need it.

The five shared suggestions can be opportunities to grow as people. The actions we take today will largely represent the memories we will have of this period. It is our responsibility to fight to create better habits that not only help us overcome the crisis, but also help us grow as people. We are ready to help you! Write us to find out how we can support you.

Bibliography

Mayo Clinic (2020). COVID-19 and your mental health. USA. Recovered from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/mental-health-covid-19/art-20482731.

National Sleep Foundation (2015). National Sleep Foundation Recommends – New Sleep Times. Distrito de Columbia, Estados Unidos. Recuperado de https://www.sleepfoundation.org/press-release/national-sleep-foundation-recommends-new-sleep-times.