Why Maintaining a Schedule During COVID-19 is Important for Your Mental Health

In a time of considerable anxiety and personal disruption, there’s not a lot individuals can do to change elements out of their control. Government mandates to remain in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, are not something to flout, as they’re for public safety and efforts to control the spread of the virus. Yet, stuck at home, unable to go to regular workplace, school, and other places as normal doesn’t mean you should vegetate on the couch. Indeed, maintaining a schedule is important for your mental health. Here’s why. This is one area of your life over which you have some control. An element of cognitive therapy known as cognitive restructuring helps change negative thoughts about impending doom, hopelessness and helplessness into something more beneficial to living during a pandemic, even when adhering to shelter-in-place guidelines. While it isn’t possible to control situations in the neighborhood, state, and country, it is possible to exercise control over individual thoughts and actions. For example, instead of freaking out, which only fuels anxiety and contributes to depression, a person can tell themselves, “I am in charge of what I do now.” As such, they can go for a walk, chat with friends or loved ones, engage in meditation, adjust a sleeping, exercise or eating schedule to accommodate more free time. Maintaining a healthy diet during COVID-19 involves paying attention to what and when you eat. If certain groceries are in short supply, ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Habits coronavirus COVID-19 Source Type: blogs