Self-care is extremely important during trying periods – and few periods have been more trying than the pandemic facilitated by the novel coronavirus. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone whose life hasn’t been impacted by COVID-19 in multiple ways. From loss of income to personal illness to disagreements with family members, the last 18 months have been trying on a number of fronts. In order to avoid being overwhelmed by the various stressors that have become synonymous with this pandemic, make time for your personal wellbeing and explore ways to feel good about yourself.
Getting Vaccinated Against COVID-19
Unless you have a medical condition that prohibits vaccination, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is your civic duty. The only solution to a pandemic of this magnitude is mass vaccination, and despite the fact that many of us spent a full year clamoring for a vaccine, far too many Americans are neglecting to do the right thing. While the vaccines may not function as impenetrable shields against the novel coronavirus, they are highly effective at preventing serious and fatal infections. In fact, as of July 2021, unvaccinated individuals account for 99% of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. So, if you’ve yet to get a COVID-19 vaccine, correct this mistake posthaste. Furthermore, make sure to get any booster shots as they become available.
Additionally, with the ballooning number of new infections and the rise of the Delta variant, it’s recommended that you continue masking up in public and practicing social distancing measures. Although a number of states relaxed and repealed their mask mandates early in the summer, it’s now become obvious that this was a massive mistake. As such, even if you’ve been fully vaccinated, continuing to wear a mask and keep a safe distance from others will help protect both you and those around you.
Assisting Immunocompromised Individuals
There’s no denying that we’re living in dangerous times – and this is doubly true for people living with compromised immune systems. Even in the best of times, immunocompromised individuals need to be extra-vigilant about avoiding potential exposure to germs and viruses. Needless to say, COVID-19’s highly infectious nature makes it exceedingly dangerous to those of us who are extremely susceptible to illness.
If you have any immunocompromised individuals in your life – be they friends, family members or neighbors – you can make their lives a lot easier by providing them with assistance until a true return to normalcy becomes feasible. For example, running errands for immunocompromised individuals can dramatically reduce their risk of being infected by the novel coronavirus.
Buying groceries, picking up prescriptions and taking care of other essential errands for immunocompromised loved ones is sure to make both you and them feel a lot better. Of course, to ensure your safety, make a point of taking advantage of curbside pickup and contactless delivery options whenever they’re available. In a broader sense, you can help people with compromised immune systems by taking part in charitable causes, such as events where you can give blood.
Making Time for Hobbies
When it comes to keeping stress levels in check, hobbies can prove invaluable. In addition to providing us with countless hours of enjoyment, hobbies help keep our minds active and broaden our horizons. Furthermore, some hobbies can facilitate new connections and give birth to lifelong friendships. Unfortunately, when living through periods as stressful as the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us allow our favorite hobbies to fall by the wayside.
To help ensure that you maintain an active interest in your favorite hobbies, set aside at least 30 minutes to one hour of personal time every day. Whether your preferred hobbies involve learning new skills, indulging in creative outlets or just kicking back with some good movies, don’t allow your favorite pastimes to slip through your fingers.
Calling the COVID-19 pandemic a relentlessly difficult time would be an understatement. Stress-wise, the last 18 months have effectively pushed many of us to our breaking points. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t seen their usual routine shaken up in a variety of ways due to the threat of the novel coronavirus.
Still, while there’s no denying that stress is currently abundant, keeping your stress levels in check doesn’t have to be an arduous undertaking. In the interest of getting through this troubling period with your mental health intact, put the tips outlined above into practice.