QuaranTings: Sanity in Chaos

Hey y'all! So, unless you're living under a literal rock, you know that the world is currently spinning out of control and the Covid-19 is spreading all over the world. The scary thing about this virus is that it is no respecter of person. It can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, location or income status.

With the US quickly becoming the epicenter of the virus this past week, businesses have been shut down and many of our cities and towns have been mandated to stay inside with no known end in sight pauses while introverts everywhere rejoice lol.

With the growing uncertainty of EVERYTHING in the world, it's beginning to feel much more stressful to be cooped up inside day after day than to go out and take the virus head-on (please don't do that though, I beg). Instead, here are a few things that you can do to protect your mental health.

Stay Connected

As much as we like to believe that we're loners in this world, we’re meant to be connected with others. Thank goodness it's 2020 and there are a plethora of ways to stay connected through technology. Some of the best apps that I used thus far are as follows:

GroupMe: This app allows for chats with as many people as you would like. Use it to communicate with friends near and far.

Zoom: this app allows you to video chat with many different people at once. As far as I can tell, there isn't a limit on who can be on the chat at once time so it's a great choice for larger friend groups.

Netflix party: one of the leading streaming apps has created the capability to watch shows and movies together with friends. Download the plug-in (which works with the Google Chrome browser) and you can start a party and share the link with your friends. This opens a viewing session with a chat, similar to a Facebook live watch party.

Houseparty: this app is awesome because it allows you to video chat with friends while playing games built into the app. The only downside is that you are limited to 8 people per “party” so that may be a challenge for larger friend groups.

Unplug when necessary

This almost seems like the exact opposite of my previous point but it is very necessary. The flip side of being so well connected can mean its easier to experience social burnout. An overabundance of information and interaction can drain the very best of us. Step away from your electronics and all of the 24/7 virus media coverage and find peace in the chaos. You can practice meditation and mindfulness by focusing on the present and what you're most grateful for now. Let your creativity flow. Go outdoors and exercise or take a quick walk to soak up some sun. Also, if you're currently working from home, try to set clear cut boundaries with your working hours. I know firsthand how easy it can be to work overtime but make a schedule and stick with it!

Find a balance

The point is that too much of anything can have its downsides. The important thing is that you can find a balance in these erratic times. It’s fine to be aware of the gravity of our current global situation but don’t use it as an excuse to obsess over what you can’t control. Control the things that you can (even if it means only being accountable for washing your hands 100+ times a day) and remember that all of this is temporary finger crossed.

Also check out TLCHealingCo on Instagram for more tips on protecting your mental health and finding inner peace.

Feel free to share your tips for keeping your mental health in check while social distancing!