Has your world been turned upside down in the past few months? Have you lost your job/income? Or maybe it’s your spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend…Are you struggling and worried about making ends meet? Are the kids driving you nuts? Are you missing the outside and your aimless walking around the store just to see people and buy things you don’t need?
In these uncertain times, with so many unknowns, it is not uncommon to feel sad. To feel more depressed and anxious. To miss the “old normal”. But here are a few things that you can do AT HOME, while quarantining/isolating, to help us feel less helpless. 1. Start a ROUTINE. I cannot stress this enough! Getting structure back into your life is going to prevent each day from bleeding into the next. It can be as simple as waking up and going to bed at the same time. 2. Exercise and eat well. This isn’t magic. But as you start to clean up your diet and lift a few weights (or watch those yoga videos you keep telling yourself you are going to do), you start feeling better. 3. Do something new. Start Cooking. Painting. Dancing. Home repair projects. Building something. I don’t know. But I’m sure there’s a youtube video out there that can teach you. And if you like it, great. You just got a new hobby. And if not, try something else. Being open and actually trying new things can increase dopamine in the brain and bring about feelings of pleasure and happiness. 4. Get enough sleep. Good sleep. Try not to nap in the middle of the day after binge watching Tiger King on Netflix. This goes back to setting routines. Meditate. Pray. Take warm showers.
If you try all of these things and are still struggling, maybe you need something more than just lifestyle changes. Maybe you need therapy. Or medication. Reach out. Help is just a phone call away.