Lockdown 2.0: How to stay sane during tough times

By Hope

January 6, 2021

***The staff at Medium Magazine are not trained in mental health treatments and/or suicide prevention. If you are experiencing troubles, please seek professional help through a licensed therapist or call a suicide hotline from your country.***

Contrary to what many of us hoped that by now, the beginning of 2021, the pandemic would have ended or at least been dammed up, several countries are going back into another lockdown after the rising number of cases following Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Since the pandemic is not going to be over soon, here are some tips on how to stay sane during these crazy times.

Inform yourself, but not too much

At the beginning of the pandemic, I checked the number of new corona cases every day. However, there was nothing I could do about the rising numbers, and it would only scare me. If you want to stay updated, make sure to only get your information from reputable sources such as the WHO. Especially since there is a lot of misinformation when it comes to the coronavirus, mainly on social media sites like Facebook.

Stay in contact with others

Especially when you are living on your own, it is important to stay in contact with others to avoid feeling like you are completely alone. Using video conference apps, such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, you can reconnect with your old friends from high school or from erenköy escort home. My friends and I have a specific day and time where we Facetime every week. You can even play online games with your friends if you are into that. For example, you could play Among Us and connect with your friends over Discord, where you can talk to each other. Or you could watch a movie with them over NetflixParty.

Keep moving (literally)

This is probably a New Years’ resolution for a lot of people, but: keep moving. Since gyms are closed in a lot of countries, you could still work out from home, where there are a lot of free online classes you can join. Working out helps to build your immune system, which is even more important with a pandemic going on at the moment. If you don’t want to work out or don’t have space for it: go for a walk. It helps to clear your mind and to focus on other (academic) tasks. Especially since most of us spend a lot of time in front of our laptops or phones, it feels good to take in some fresh air. You can also connect with your friends by working out together.

Always remember that the situation we are currently in is not permanent.

Maintain sleep rhythms

Get a good night’s sleep. Research suggests that it’s recommended to get at least 7-9 hours sleep a göztepe escort night if you’re between the age of 18 and 25. Moreover, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, so your body has the chance to be familiarized with the rhythm. Before going to bed, take half an hour to wind down and try to put your phone or electronic devices away.

Know how to cope with stress

I don’t know about you, but for me personally, the past year flew by. Everything blurred into each other: weekdays, weekends, holidays. However, what really helped me stay in touch with reality was meditation. Even if it is just five minutes a day, meditation helps you calm down and find the motivation and strength in accomplishing your tasks. Know when to relax and pay attention to your body: if you feel like you need to rest, do it and don’t try to finish your tasks if you are not able to focus anymore. You could also try to find a hobby that can bring you relaxation, such as journaling, drawing, or knitting.

Cover: Fabian Møller