Your Most Valuable Asset: 5 Ways to Protect Your Mental Health during a Quarantine
I decided a few years ago that I wanted my blog to have a niche that focused on personal finance and career topics, particularly for the millennial generation. I would read amazing articles that discussed the need to increase financial literacy and how to pay off massive amounts of debt. I was inspired when I saw testimonials of people, particularly women, negotiating their salaries and advocating for promotions.
I recognize that money and our jobs are on a lot of our minds during the current pandemic. But at what point do we discuss the impact this is having on our mental health?
As someone who suffers from anxiety, I understand the damage when you become the last thing on your growing priority list. And while I've been privileged enough to have health insurance and the financial means for a therapist, I know there are so many who are not as fortunate.
I encourage you during this time of daily press conferences and hourly updates about flattening the curve, to prioritize yourself, even if it's taking five minutes to check in on how you are feeling.
Five ways to protect your mental health while during a quarantine:
Own Your Feelings
In my family, March and April have a large number of birthdays and significance to celebrate. I have an aunt and uncle whose birthdays are a week apart; there technically Irish twins, a cousin on the West Coast, and my older sister. However, the most significant birthday in March is my grandmother, who turned 98 this year. I knew this year I wouldn't be able to fly home from Ohio to NYC but honestly didn't really feel the impact of quarantining until her birthday. I tried to stay positive during the day by posting a throwback picture from a few years ago when her health was better, and my hair was combed.
But seeing all the posts from other family members, who were able to celebrate in person, and then seeing how rapidly her health had declined on video later on that evening kind of broke my otherwise "I'm fine" mentality. I'm not usually an emotional person, but at that moment, I was frustrated and mad as hell. First, I tried working out by doing an intense high-intensity workout. Then I deep cleaned my bathroom, and when neither of those sweat provoking activities helped, I had to let the tears flow. I kept trying to make sense of how I should be feeling, but last time I checked, there was no manual of how to cope during a pandemic. What did make me ultimately feel better was letting go, lying in the dark on my couch for a specific amount of time (gave myself an hour), and texting my sister.
Those are the steps that worked for me, and while there is no one size fits all approach, owning my feelings at that moment was a lot better than denying I had any.
Identify Your Triggers
My significant other thoroughly enjoys keeping up with current events, global news content, and is a major history buff. So, of course, with the pandemic situation rapidly changing, especially in NYC, he has tuned in to stay informed. He also works in the airline industry, so he has valid concerns about the future of his employment.
However, watching the news, especially during this time, is a significant trigger for me. I'm finding that updates once a day is enough information for me to feel informed and to process. Also, because there is so much conflicting news between governors, mayors, and the federal government, I prefer to get the highlights.
So I've been turning off my daily news notifications on my phone and only watching the news once a day. I'm saying this to encourage you to recognize your triggers, understand how it may be impacting your mood, and adjust your routine.
Find Ways To Channel Your Energy
I think it's great that some people are finding time to learn new skills and to start side hustles. There have been so many small businesses that have found creative ways to showcase products and help out those in need. However, I also fully support people who are doing absolutely nothing but taking extra naps during this time. These past few weeks, I've found it interesting that even with the world on house arrest, there is still this perceived need to be moving and busy.
I can tell you the first two weeks of me working from home; I was a hot mess. I'm still onboarding to a new job, in the middle of an intense HIIT workout program, and trying my best to accept this new reality. I can also say (on a positive note) that I've had dinner more consistent and earlier, and I'm getting at least 7 hours of sleep every night. If that ends up being my post quarantine story, I'll take it.
Talk to a Therapist
The best thing I ever did was recognize that therapy was not a sign of weaknesses but a sign of strength. Finding a therapist that you feel comfortable with is a process in itself, but definitely worth the trial and error. I started going to therapy two years ago, and while I believe my first therapist had good intentions, I knew that I needed to have a new therapist that had experience working with people of color.
Since I know therapists are not always covered by insurance, I've listed out some mental health resources. You can also check your state's website to see if they are offering emotional support resources during this time.
List of resources:
Therapy for Black Girls (where I found my current therapist)
Boris Henson Foundation -Taraji P. Henson's foundation(cost of up to 5 sessions will be waved; virtual sessions will open on April 15th)
Stay Connected With Your Community
As an introvert, I thought that I would be fine throughout this social distance period. While I live in a pretty exciting city, on a typically Saturday night, you can often find me chilling in my apartment, working on side projects, and video chatting with my family. When I do have plans, they are usually with the different communities of friends that I've built over the years.
When the shelter order hit NYC, I knew I needed to keep those same connections, even within this new "virtual" reality. Beyond weekly video chats, I've tried to keep up with my online groups to share throwback pics and leave comments on my favorite newsletters that I would typically read on my commute to work.
I'm also trying to use my (little) social media following to elevate some of my favorite small businesses. Many of these brands had to re-prioritize their marketing budgets to keep their business running and to pay employees. It only takes me a few minutes to create some free marketing through my prior experience with their product or service.
What are some other helpful tips? How are you protecting and prioritizing your mental health during this quarantine?