2020 will go down in history as one of the toughest years faced by the human race. I, for one, had a difficult time juggling my responsibilities while also keeping my mental health under check. Here are some of the things I did to keep myself at peace.
Reducing time spent on social media
Source: Tenor/KeanuSamoy
As though the pandemic wasn’t enough, 2020 has brought with it an avalanche of one bad news after another. After a few weeks of madly scrolling through social media, I realised that I was better off baking banana bread or taking a nap then going down the rabbit hole that is social media apps. And guess what? Not reading about every COVID-19 update drastically improved my mood and eased my stress levels a bit.
Kept in touch with family and friends
Source: Tenor/UsernameAlreadyInUse
If you suffer from anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, you might not always be able to reach out to people. It was difficult for me too but I was able to talk to friends and family due to their constant support and reassurance. It helped me feel a little less lonely and also aided me in feeling better emotionally.
Started writing a journal
Source: Tenor/sarahjay214
Sometimes, our friends might not be available to hear us out as they might not have the bandwidth to do so. At the suggestion of a friend, I started maintaining a journal where I put entries twice or thrice a week. Not only does it clear the clutter in my head, but it also helps me make sense of my thoughts and feelings. I have been doing this exercise at the end of the day or week, and it has helped me sleep a lot better.
Reading/watching light-hearted content
Source: Tenor/TJOlive
Let’s face it, there’s so much going on in the world…do we really need to watch a fictional show to feel horrified? I don’t think so. Instead of my usual shows that implore you to introspect, I have been watching shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Schitt’s Creek, and Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai to get some good laughs and disconnect from the real world.
Cooking
Source: Tenor/AlbertHeijn
I haven’t been a fan of cooking but 2020 is full of surprises. Oddly enough, chopping vegetables and stirring them in a pan have brought me more peace than I could have imagined. If you made fun of people going gaga over dalgona coffee and banana bread, you can include me in the latter category. It truly helped me calm down and feel better.
Disclaimer: These views reflect the author’s personal experiences, not the opinions of a medical practitioner. If you experience mental health issues, contact a therapist or psychiatrist.
Social and lead image credit: Red Chillies Entertainment, Dharma Productions, and Hope Productions
