While it’s vital to prioritize physical health by adopting a balanced diet, getting enough exercise, and sleeping enough, mental wellbeing is just as important as physical wellbeing. 

However, society has been unaware of how imperative mental wellbeing is for decades. Fortunately, one positive impact of the pandemic is that mental health awareness has grown substantially. As a result, self-care practices have become popular while more individuals are encouraging others to ‘reach out’ when they need to.

The pandemic has been an undeniably challenging time for most, and with the effects still in full swing, it’s become even more essential to find ways to stay mentally healthy. 

These practical tips will help you manage feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress that stem from the pandemic. 

Know Your Available Testing Options

Thanks to medical advancements over the past several years, it didn’t take long for several different covid19 testing measures to emerge. Initially, nasal swabs were considered the most accurate approach. However, nasal swabs are pretty uncomfortable, to say the least. 

Fortunately, saliva testing proves to be equally effective, and it’s a lot more comfortable. Beyond that, you can now purchase a DNA saliva collection kit online, collect your saliva sample, and then ship the sample to the lab. As a result, you don’t even need to leave your home if you are experiencing covid symptoms. 

Understand The Symptoms

Knowing the symptoms means knowing what to look out for and when to take action for your health. If you don’t know the symptoms, you might find yourself stressing about a covid infection every time you aren’t feeling well. Unfortunately, because the symptoms are pretty similar to regular flu, it’s easy to understand how symptoms can send your mental wellness out the door. 

Typically, if you have covid19, you will likely experience more than one symptom. The symptoms include fever, chills, a sore throat, loss of taste and smell, headache, muscle pains, shaking, and fatigue. If you note at least two of these symptoms, you should opt for a covid19 test as soon as you can to put your mind at ease and take any necessary actions if you have been infected. 

Have The Essentials On Hand

The essential things you need during the pandemic include sanitizer, face masks, disinfectant wipes, test kits, and immune-boosting supplements. Having these essential items on hand means you will be more prepared to combat an infection. 

Implementing prevention and preparation measures is a great way to safeguard your mental wellbeing. Knowing you are prepared will prevent feelings of anxiety and stress that come along with uncertainty. 

Stay In Contact With Loved Ones

One of the most pressing challenges we have faced moving through the pandemic is isolation. As social beings, we were not designed to isolate ourselves from our friends and family. So, isolation is a major contributing factor to negative mental health impacts. 

Unfortunately, there has been a lot of isolation on everyone’s schedules. So, making a point of staying in contact with loved ones is imperative to mental wellbeing. Moreover, there are some practical ways to strengthen your relationship during lockdowns. These include giving each other enough space, making time for self-care, and being open to communication. 

Consider Virtual Therapy Session

When self-care fails to lift your spirits and to try to reach out to your support system is a struggle, you’re the best solution to find a therapist. Virtual therapy has helped countless individuals overcome the struggle of isolation and all the pandemics’ negative impacts on mental wellbeing. 

Because virtual therapy is convenient and accessible, it’s now easier than ever to care for your mental health. 

Shrug Of Nonsensical Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theorists have worked overtime ever since the first few covid19 infections were detected. And while some theories are so intricate that they are easy to believe, indulging in conspiracies is a quick way to offset your mental health. 

Even though conspiracy theories can be intriguing and even believable, they are based on the absence of evidence. Therefore, focusing on these can quickly make everything seem like a lie. 

Instead of buying into the chaos and developing an unhealthy obsession, it’s best to only pay attention to what you need to know as far as news and media go. So, prioritize presidential addresses, lockdown restriction changes, new variant detections, and treatment developments. Beyond that, there’s no reason to delve into news reports or conspiracy theories that could easily send anyone into a troubling downward spiral of depression and anxiety. 

Finding The Positive Impacts Of The Pandemic

Even though the pandemic has left behind so many negative impacts that range from shockingly high unemployment rates to losing loved ones and isolation, there are some positives. 

In the early phases of strict lockdowns, it became pretty clear that nature and wildlife thrive when humans are away. Many images were captured from around the globe that proved pollution was visibly reduced. Beyond that, in many areas of the world, wild animals were once again free to roam around without a care. 

These beautiful changes are positives that serve our future as a human race. We’ve now noted how important it is to protect the planet by seeing just how destructive we are. And with this, eco-friendly lifestyles are on the rise. Most of the positive impacts surround planet conservation.

The past few years have been undoubtedly challenging for everyone. With so many drastic changes, it’s been hard to adapt. However, studies show that humans are not inherently victims of change. While depression rates may have skyrocketed early in the pandemic, these same numbers soon declined, proving humans to be both resilient and adaptable.

But even so, if you are having a hard time coping during the pandemic, it’s imperative to reach out to a loved one or a mental health professional. The first step to a healthier mental state is often the hardest, but with the new increase in mental health service access, it’s now a lot easier than ever before.