By now, we are well aware of the different precautions we need to take to protect ourselves from COVID-19, such as carefully washing our hands and practicing social distancing. As we learn to enforce all these new habits, it is important to tune in to ourselves and monitor how the situation is impacting our mental health. The transition from working in a bustling office and enjoying post-work drinks with friends to spending days on end in social isolation is a difficult one, whether you consider yourself an easy-going optimist or not. In this blog post, we will focus on the different ways you can build resilience, stay positive, and take care of your mental health during this challenging time.

• Make changes that are in your control: There are many things about the COVID-19 outbreak over which we have little to no control, and it is easy to enter a negative headspace filled with worry and anxiety. There is real strength in focusing on the small changes you can make in your life that will help you through this difficult time—even just identifying what changes you can make is a step in the right direction. This can include taking short breaks during your work day to practicing meditation or starting the day with an energizing workout. A lot of exercise studios are now offering discounted online classes and free live stream sessions to accommodate workers who can no longer attend in person. Take advantage of these offers and feel that burst of endorphins help you through your day!
• Start a gratitude challenge: Everyday, jot down five things you are grateful for in a notebook. The act of sitting down and reflecting on these things will help you see your current situation in a more positive light. Try to keep it up for as long as you can!
• Plan an online dance party: You can schedule these during the day to break up your work hours and move your body, and make them as short as five minutes. Get a group of friends or coworkers together, set a time and date, and shake loose!
• Set a workout date with a friend: It’s often easier to commit to a workout when you have an accountability buddy encouraging you. Pick a friend who is also committed to working out from home, and plan to participate in the same live stream workout classes. This will not only get you moving, but also make for a fun date with a friend.
• Detox from technology and clock out: A challenge a lot of us are facing is creating healthy boundaries between work and leisure, since we are not commuting to an office space anymore. It is easy to let both your work and home life bleed into each other when you are working and living under the same roof. Due to this, it is more important than ever to leave work and technology behind when you clock out at the end of the day. Close your laptop or computer and vow to ignore it until morning. It’s time for some much needed rest and relaxation!
• Start a collaborative playlist with your friends: Spotify lets you create collaborative playlists with other Spotify users – take advantage of this feature and curate a playlist you and your group of friends can add to from wherever they are! We are spending a lot of time indoors, and our own music might start to feel repetitive. It’s a great time to discover artists your friends have been listening to, and who knows, you might keep listening to them once this is all behind us!

Have tips you’d like to share with us? Shoot us a line at @socialfly and we will share with our community. Please stay safe and healthy during this time.