Tips for Reducing Stress While Self-Isolating

Focus on What You Can Control

You can’t do anything about what is happening in the world right now, except keep yourself safe. Instead of worrying about what you have no control over, just focus on what you CAN control. This might mean setting up a schedule to do homework, getting regular exercise, cooking meals at home, reading or doing other self-care, washing your hands, and so much more. These are things that are good for your mental and physical health, and that you have full control over.

Limit How Often You Watch the News

It can be hard to walk away, but if you are currently staying home because of Coronavirus, you really need to be careful with how much time you are devoting to updates. While you don’t want to unplug completely, try to limit how often you watch the news. Try getting your updates just once a day – they repeat a lot of information, so that is really all you need. Choose just one way to get your news and leave it at that.

Have Blocks of “No Social Media” Time

When you are spending a lot of time alone, social media can seem like a good way to keep up with friends and family. While it can help, you might notice that absorbing too much of it is hurting your mental health. If you find that you feel fine before logging on, then are in a bad, irritable, sad, or upset mood after checking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or others, it’s time to limit your social media. A better strategy is to have blocks of time where you don’t use social media or try for blocks of 1-2 hours at a time.

Set Up a Normal Routine

Something you will hear about when it comes to isolation or quarantine, no matter why you have to isolate, is to have a normal routine. When you find yourself spending long periods of time at home, the panic sets in when things are off. If you feel like you have to suddenly switch to a new schedule (or no schedule at all), nothing feels familiar. To combat this, try to create a routine that becomes a new temporary normal. If you can include some elements similar to what your routine was prior to isolation, that will help tremendously. For example, if when you were working outside the home, you always ate lunch at 1:00 pm, try to do the same thing now.

Take Care of Your Mental Health

To reduce stress while you are spending time at home, you want to focus on your mental health, which can help you to de-stress. For example, if you need fresh air, head outside to go for a walk. Keep your distance from others if you are social distancing, but just getting outside in the fresh air and getting some exercise is amazing for your emotional health. Some other ideas include reading, doing meditation, and participating in baking or making crafts.

Take Care of Your Physical Health

In addition to your mental health, you can reduce stress by taking care of your body as well. This includes getting more exercise, eating a nutritious diet, and drinking water. Don’t burden your mind right now with dieting or weight loss. Just try to balance your meals and snacks with something healthy that also includes some indulgent treats.

Socialize from a Distance

Even when you need to keep your physical distance from others, you can still socialize Connect with friends or loved ones on video chat software such as Zoom, FaceTime, or WhatsApp, or text or call them at an arranged time. You can also get a friend or group of friends together to play multiplayer mobile games, have virtual game nights, and join online communities.

At The Arise Society, we understand how difficult it is to live in isolation, especially during such a strange time. Many people are being impacted and one of our goals is to mitigate those effects by encouraging social and emotional support, and more.