Coming into this semester with high hopes has proven to be difficult with COVID cases once again on the rise. Uncertainty revolving around the pandemic can induce anxiety, rendering the importance of taking care of our mental health higher than ever. The anxious mind fills itself with worst-case scenarios, and while this is the brain’s way of protecting us, it can lead to a depressive state, negatively affecting our daily lives. While keeping hopeful may be tough, there are some ways to tweak your everyday routine that can be helpful in keeping a positive and healthy mind.
One suggestion proposed by an article from Psychology Today is to narrow down your focus to aspects of your life that you actually have control over. Especially reminding yourself of those aspects of which that are positive can bring about a more peaceful mindset. For example, try bringing to mind something as simple as the fact that your favorite show will be coming on soon. Of course your thoughts will still wander to your worries, however, the more effort put into thinking good thoughts, the more your mood will be influenced. Going hand-in-hand with this idea, limiting the amount of time spent on social media can also promote a healthier mind. While this does not mean being oblivious to the outside world, decreasing the amount of time spent looking up COVID statistics, for example, can allow you to be more supportive of your psychological limits.
As a student that is regularly on campus, I find myself distressed at times because of COVID-related matters. For example, I was guilty of checking the school’s COVID dashboard several times per day. In an effort to relieve some anxiety, I have recently limited myself to only checking once before going to bed. In addition to this tactic, I take a minute to think of three things I am thankful for when I wake up in the morning. Although these changes I have made may seem minor, I have experienced a noticeable reduction in my worrying.
While coping mechanisms like these are important, it is also essential that we all do our part in reducing the spread. Being attentive to updates and adhering to the current guidelines set by the school and the CDC can be frustrating, especially when everyone is finally reunited on campus, but following them as best as possible will not only help your personal mental health, but will also help protect the community and will hopefully result in a return to normality sooner.
COVID has resulted in a worsening of mental health issues throughout the world, making it crucial that we take the time to promote healthy minds. By actively practicing coping mechanisms such as these, we can begin to restore mindset positivity.