This pandemic hasn’t been easy for anyone. We’ve almost been navigating this uncertainty for a year now! A lot of people find it lonely, isolating and stressful, especially older adults who haven’t seen their loved ones.
Below are five ways to help you maintain positivity and mental health.
1. Turn off your phone, TV and any other electronics you might have.
Electronics are very useful. We can use them to stay in touch with our loved ones and keep up with the latest news. However, it can get super overwhelming with all the messaging, ads, and news that gets thrown at us on a daily basis. Instead of spending so much time on your electronics, try replacing that time with reading a book, going for a walk or completing a quick workout. Did you know most doctors and scientists suggest turning off your electronics one hour before you go to bed? This helps you get better sleep and maintain mental clarity. Try it and see if this helps you!
2. Do something special for yourself.
Maybe you feel like you’ve had a long week. Do something to treat yourself!! Maybe that looks like treating yourself to your favourite dessert or ordering takeout from your favourite restaurant for you and your household to enjoy? I always try and do something special for myself at least once a week. It gives me something to look forward to and it’s also a good self-care practice.
3. Make a pot of coffee or tea and enjoy every sip.
Coffee and tea are my favourites! I try and make myself coffee AND tea every day. My go-to’s are Earl Grey tea or a Vanilla Latte. Whenever I sit down to drink my coffee or tea I try my best to savour every sip! Each time I take a sip I think of something or someone I’m grateful for. It’s crazy how this keeps you in a positive and grateful mindset!
4. Send a special gratitude message to a friend or make a spontaneous phone call.
Who doesn’t love making someone’s day? I love sending gratitude messages to my friends and loved ones. I also love connecting with them through video chat or over the phone. This can help you feel less lonely and clear your mind of any stresses. Try it over the weekend and see how you feel!
5. Write down 10 things you are grateful for and write down how they make you feel.
If I’m ever feeling down or stressed, this one completely turns my mood around! I love to do this a few times per week, I collect my little gratitude notes and put them in a gratitude jar after I write them. At the end of the year I dump out the jar and read through them, it makes me so happy to see everything I was grateful for that year! Try it this year and you’d be surprised at how fast the jar fills up!
For even more positivity and motivation watch this YouTube video HERE!
