Dr. Sapna Bangar, Psychiatrist & Head -Mpower The Centre Mumbai
Keep in touch with your loved ones
Maintaining physical distance need not mean social distancing. Stay connected with your loved ones, family and friends. Call your friend, have a video-call or catch up with your family or check in with someone on social media. Seeking support from others helps us realize that we may not be alone
Express your feelings
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, confused, and uncertain. What is important is that you express your feelings with someone you trust. You can also write a diary or use creative arts to let go of your pent up emotions
Set a day to day routine
When everything around us seems uncertain, having a structure and routine makes us feel in control. You might find it helpful to plan out your time in advance and know what you are doing each day, so you have something to look forward to.
Look after your personal environment
Create a space that you are able to enjoy and feel comfortable in. It could even be a small corner of your room or a space in the balcony.
Social media detox helps
Stay away from excessive negative news coverage or social media. It can be frustrating and overwhelming.
Foster Wellness
Eat, sleep and exercise regularly. Avoid excessive Caffeine, alcohol or illicit Substances. Develop new or revisit old hobbies. Spend at least some ‘me time’ even if it is for 10 minutes in a day doing something that you enjoy. Practice Yoga, Meditation or Mindfulness to reduce stress levels.
Practice gratitude
Practice learning the art of being thankful for what you have. You can maintain a gratitude journal and remember that sometimes the things that we take for granted are the most important things to be thankful for!
Find a purpose
Take up a social cause like helping others who are less fortunate. Helping others elevates our self-esteem and adds to our resilience.
Set realistic goals- you may need to revisit your goals or move the timelines of achieving them. Break your goals into small achievable targets and slowly move towards it.
Seek Help
Seeking help from a professional when you need it in a timely fashion is crucial in building resilience especially when you feel stuck or have difficulty making progress.
