The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is not only a global health crisis, it's a global mental health crisis. During these challenging times, you and your loved ones may be experiencing more mental health concerns than usual including increased anxiety, job and financial stress, loneliness, grief, and more.
So are we.
Here at Verywell Mind, our mission is—and always will be—to help you prioritize your mental health and find balance. Above all else, we want you to know you are not alone.
Our team talks every day (via Zoom) about our work—and also about how we’re feeling.
These mental health check-ins provide our team a sense of comfort and unity and a time to share what’s helping us most right now.
Since we're all in this together, we've compiled some tips for you, too. We may not have it all figured out, but these are some of the ways we're taking good care of our mental health. Our hope is you may find even one new idea here today that helps you feel better than yesterday.
We Are Making Time for What’s Important
"The days I don't speak on the phone or video chat with my friends and family make me feel low, but there are a few things that are helping me.
"I am keeping an intention journal called 'Calm the Chaos' by Nicola Ries Taggart. Each day it includes a gratitude reflection and intention setting for the next day. This helps me focus on what I can control, appreciate the small but positive things happening each day, and achieve small goals.
"I am transitioning to online therapy through FaceTime, which has been completely seamless, helpful, and energizing. And I’m also finding new time for things I love—like listening to an entire album from start to finish and reading.
"So far, I've read the 'Silent Patient,' 'Hardwiring Happiness,' and 'Heart Talk' by Cleo Wade."
—Hannah Hashmi, Senior Marketing Manager
We Are Setting New Ground Rules
"I try to not talk about COVID-19 past 6 p.m. Having some time when it's not the main point of discussion is really important to me. I also mute group text conversations if they are disruptive. I've learned that it's OK to protect your mental space."
—Natalie Maneval, Editor
We Are Creating Routines
"For me, keeping a routine and separating my new physical space has been best for my mental health. Every morning, I go down and say hi to my doormen (from a safe distance) and every night, I say good night.
"I practice yoga in my hallway. I close the doors and keep the lights dim so it's like I'm in a (tiny, mat-sized) studio.
"When I finish work for the day, I cover my makeshift desk area with a tablecloth so my 'office' is closed. I also wear different outfits for working from home vs. the rest of my day. They're all basically loungewear and nothing has zippers, but it helps keep things separate!"
—Nicole Kwan, Associate Editorial Director
We Are Focusing on the Good
"I'm trying to stay informed enough to have the latest information, but not so much that I am drowning in bad news. I've also been putting my yearly reading challenge into hyperdrive, which is always nice for a temporary escape. I recently finished the 'Remembrance of Earth's Past' trilogy by Cixin Liu.
"I generally just try to stay as positive as possible and not let what's going on take over my routine and my whole personality. And I'm spending a lot of extra time with our cats Panda and Pecan."
—Nick Ingalls, Senior Editor
We Are Taking Breaks From the News
"I’ve been limiting the time spent watching news and TV in general. This is important for my mental health because it allows me to focus on other things that keep me happy, fit, calm, and engaged with family and friends."
—Rob Stephen, VP, Marketing
"I only watch the news once a day. I’ve been meditating daily for 20 minutes instead."
—Craig Haines, Chief Revenue Officer
We Are Meditating More Than Ever
"I am meditating with the Insight Timer app every single morning. The one day I skipped it, I started crying in the middle of a Zoom meeting, so I quickly realized this is something that really helps me stay calm.
"Also (one of my Verywell team members gave me this idea), I am not reading any news at night before bed so I can sleep as well as possible—which is so key to mental health."
—Rachel Berman, General Manager
"Taking time to clear your head is so important right now. I’ve been meditating with Headspace (when I want to fully disconnect) or Aaptiv (if I’m cleaning up around my apartment).
"I'm also heading out for walks in the early morning along the waterfront to avoid any crowds.
"Finally, I'm seeking out good news. I love following @tanksgoodnews and all of the late night shows like Kimmel and Fallon on Instagram, because they’re doing great, light-hearted segments."
—Sabrina Szriftgiser, Senior Director, Marketing
We Are Trying New Things
"I'm aiming to meditate at least once a day to help clear thoughts from my head and remember to keep things in perspective. But I've also started using an astrology app called The Pattern, which shares your personal tendencies based on your time and place of birth.
"I've also done tarot cards a couple of times with my roommate to remind myself of my areas of growth that could use some extra love. With all this 'free time,' I'm finding I'm not able to avoid the thoughts and feelings I might normally put off, so I'm embracing that."
—Laura Harold, Editor
We Are Seeking Distractions
"Because my work involves a lot of coding and screen time, being able to get outside and get my hands dirty with some physical yard work has been super cathartic."
—Brian Piccione, Tech Lead
We Are Finding Balance
"Every morning, I turn to my husband and say, 'Today is going to be a great day.' I might not always believe it when I say it, but I try my best to manifest some happy, calming moments throughout the day.
"For me, daily exercise is key. If I’m working out, running, or practicing yoga, it helps me focus on something that’s not the latest, unsettling news.
"In the evenings, I wind down with some puzzle time (there are 1,000 pieces all over my coffee table right now!), reflect on my day using Grateful, a gratitude journal app, and then try my best to get some quality sleep, thanks to my new BFF melatonin."
—Emily Rose, Senior Editorial Director
We Are Spending More Time With Family
"I'm reading books (currently 'Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions'), taking some online courses, and spending more time with my family—playing with my son and watching new movies together."
—Himanshu Bahuguna, QA Team Lead
"Quality family time, especially on our afternoon strolls, has been really helpful. Once our 19-month-old daughter is down for the night, my wife and I just sit together and talk. We’ve always done this, but now it feels more necessary and important for our mental health than ever—especially with another baby on the way any day now."
—Mark Lewis, Director, Product
We Are Practicing Gratitude
"Practicing gratitude has been my saving grace. Reminding myself of all the things I have to be grateful for helps put even some of the toughest challenges into perspective.
"And when it doesn't, I just let myself feel whatever I'm feeling (without all that self-judgment) for a little while. It’s easier said than done, but I feel it, I label it, I might even talk about it with someone I trust, and then I try to let it go."
—Shelby Daley, Quality Assurance Editor
We Are Accepting Change
"For me, there are all the obvious things like yoga, trying to maintain a breathwork practice, exercising when possible, and spending time with family or loved ones (virtually).
"But I think there’s a lot more to it than that.
"There is grief and a loss of control I feel in my life that has been challenging to wrap my head around. This is why I’m working on going with the flow in the face of chaos I cannot change, giving myself permission to rest, and forgiving myself for any perceived shortcomings or lack of focus during this time.
"I’m also really trying to remember to be grateful for my physical health when everyone doesn’t have that luxury. Oh, and I’m taking a lot of lavender scented epsom salt baths—that helps too!"
—Kate Nelson, Assistant Editor
0 Comments