Resources to Combat Stay At Home Blues: BetterHelp
It’s been a decade (or two) that I’ve been working from home and I absolutely love it! When the pandemic hit, staying home wasn’t such a big deal. It was nice to have my husband home with me and aside from having everything delivered, it was pretty much things as usual.
As the months have gone by, it has been a bit of a struggle, even for me. A travel journalist doesn’t like to sit ideally by and not be out exploring. My biggest adventure has been taking the dogs for a walk each day. Now that we’re moving into the cooler months, the walks aren’t as frequent. For me being active is critical. Staying connected is also important.
Staying mentally fit
The topic of mental health can be uncomfortable. Not a subject one might bring up at a cocktail party or even around the water cooler at the office. It’s difficult enough in what we might call a typical social setting, pre-COVID, but now we’re keeping at home and social distancing. The weight of the pandemic, working from home, not seeing family and friends can be heavy. Virtual hugs and Zooming have replaced physical hugs and in-person socializing. Hey, it’s been fun, but how do you get out of the COVID-19 funk?
Fight the brain mush
Some days my brain feels like mush and my mind wanders. I long to be sitting on the beach somewhere…and I’m not even a beach-y person. Changing up my daily routine has really helped me stay focused and keeps my days interesting. I get off the computer and go old-school and get out my notepad and pen. A few days a week I get started an hour or two earlier than normal. Then treat myself to “getting off work early!” There is less mush with a varied schedule.
Get moving!
When the pandemic first hit I turned to YouTube as my workout buddy and pulled up some of my old favorites like; Gilad: Bodies in Motion, the 20 Minute Workout and Winsor Pilates. When those programs got tiresome, I purchased a recumbent bicycle and it’s been fabulous! I sit back and pedal while on conference calls or take an afternoon break and grab an episode of Law & Order. It’s a nice change to be off the computer and get my heart pumping.
Stop binge-watching and start doing
My husband and I are pretty sure we’ve binge-watched all programming that is 7 stars plus on both Prime and Netflix. When you start moving into the 6 stars range, it’s time to up off the sofa and start doing…something. Our closets and drawers have never been more organized. We did our spring cleaning at the start of the pandemic, so now we’re into our autumn cleanse and purge mode. It’s been fun and there’s a feeling of accomplishment. Even in the smallest of tasks.
Make a connection
The pandemic has provided me with an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and colleagues and to spend the time meeting new people. I’m investing more time on social media and utilizing LinkedIn to make new business connections. My sister started a cooking group on Facebook to bring people together and I’ll admit, I’ve done a post or two.
If you’re looking for more support than what friends, family or colleagues can offer, BetterHelp is an incredible resource. Connecting with a mental health professional online may be just what you need or take advantage of there incredible collection of articles.
To learn more about how you can improve your mental health and beat the stay at home blues check out this good read.
Stay safe at home and blues-free!
What did your social calendar look like before COVID-19? Have you taken a look at the odometer on your car to see mileage? What do you look forward to doing once it’s safe again? Please share your comments with us below!
Feature Photo by Imani Bahati on Unsplash
