Your Mental Health and COVID-19
As we enter May, we honor Mental Health Awareness Month. Here at The Financial Gym, we know tackling finances often comes with stress and anxiety. This year, May approaches as many of us are navigating a global pandemic and disruptions to our routines. It is so important, now and more than ever, to bring awareness to mental health. If you are struggling with uncertainty, here are some ways that you can take care of your mental health.
First and foremost, if you are feeling particularly anxious or are struggling with your mental health, reach out to a mental health provider. Many mental health providers are able to offer services over video calls or the phone, it can be comforting to have an outlet for what you are experiencing and speak to a trained professional. If you’re feeling alone and struggling, you can also reach out to The Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741 or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
It’s so important for each of us to find ways to feel safe and comforted. This might mean finding a regular exercise or movement routine. If you are on social media, you have probably seen many free workouts on IG live, IGTV, or over Zoom. Many instructors are being kind enough to offer modified classes for free on these various platforms. There is a workout for everyone and now is a great time to try all of these different workout options! If you are able to, try to also get fresh air and vitamin D by taking a walk outside-exercise boosts both your physical and mental health.
For some people, comfort might come in cozy meals or trying new recipes. If you’re feeling nostalgic for family meals, take some time to call a family member or loved one and learn family recipes. This activity will keep you connected and in touch with loved ones, something we know is so important when we can’t physically spend time with our families. As a bonus, eating well balanced meals will boost your immune system!
Now is a great time to evaluate your own habits. Has your sleep pattern, concentration, or substance (alcohol, tobacco, other drug) use shifted during the last few weeks? Stress can manifest in different ways for different people, and it’s important to know yourself and be in tune with any changes you may be experiencing. Do your best to stick to a healthy and regular sleep schedule. Now might be a good time to get into a routine of practicing meditation and mindfulness. We have a money meditation practice on our IGTV with Journey Meditation. This is a great place to start. Journey Mediation is a great resource to get started.
As we move into May, we hope you take time to evaluate your mental health. There’s no shame in asking for help or taking a break to care for yourself.