Maintaining Mental Health in a Locked World

I know there will be a day that I look back at this post and think, I can’t believe the circumstances behind this article actually happened. An unseen enemy, a virus, has changed the way the entire world wakes, works and sleeps.

Watching movies based on scenario’s of the times we are living through were done for entertainment. Today we re-watch them to maybe learn a survival tactic, or two. Though I do believe that we will get through this without the ensuing drama that Hollywood usually depicts, before showing us the rosy triumph at the end.

In the midst of all the uncertainty there are a lot of brave warriors. I’m talking about our medical personnel including doctors, nurses, truck drivers, delivery folk and the local vegetable vendor. All of them today are our saviours, the people who we took for granted a week before are suddenly THE most important people all around the world.

In the midst of all this, is our sanity.

There is light at the end of this tunnel

For how long can one maintain their cool and not lose it during these tough times? The lockdown in India has just begun and I’m optimistic that there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel we’re all in. But in order to get through we need to make sure we don’t trip, trample or rush to the end. Dare I say that we may need to go through this again, or face a longer tunnel.

3 steps for Mental Health during a Lockdown

The tell tale signs of a slow degradation of ones own sense of control is suddenly getting irritated at a question, feeling impatient to complete the smallest tasks, the tone in your voice slowly getting louder as the days go by. There are many others, but most would experience at least one of the above. Below are three simple steps you can take to address this head on.

Form a Routine

Not for the entire family, but just for yourself. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it shouldn’t be useless either. There are a hundred things I could list, but to keep it brief find one or two things that could save time not just for yourself but for others too. This way the possibility of a task being unperformed and becoming a point of a heated argument vanishes. Two birds, one task 😉

Work on a Skill

As simple as it sounds it’s something every one of us can use the time for. Here’s a hint though, work on skills that don’t require noise levels to elevate which may get unbearable very fast. It’s probably not the best time to learn those break-dancing moves, but definitely a good time to learn a language.

Expect Nothing

Kids not waking up till lunch time? A lot of dishes piling up (see point no.1 above)? Need to ration food items as the supermarket lines are long? Yes, all of these are annoying in their own right and it’s the reality we live in today. In tennis, coaches will tell you to control the elements you can and expect nothing to go as you plan (well mostly). So only control what you can and expect nothing from everything else.

Bonus: Find some time in the evening to meditate and relax by yourself, or with the whole family together. Silence brings everyone together more than you can imagine.

Stay strong, and stay home!

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