How to Fight Depression During Quarantine

For all of us, the stay at home order means something different. Maybe you’re retired, and you cannot go to your volunteer commitment or see friends. Maybe you are working from home, or not able to work. When the only significant trips out of the house are to gather necessary supplies, it’s easy to feel some depression during quarantine.

It’s hard to give up life as you knew it. Our “new normal” is for everyone’s safety, but it will certainly take some getting used to. If you feel like you are depressed, the best thing that you can do is to call your doctor or therapist.

Lifestyle Suggestions To Fight Depression During Quarantine

Face to Face Interactions

The best way to get face to face interactions during quarantine is with your immediate family, or whoever you live with. You could schedule some technology-free time, or a way to communicate together without distraction. If you live alone this may not be so easy.

Phone calls may help, but if you are able to set up video technology, that would allow you to still see the other person. Even though this isn’t the same as in-person, that ability to look at the person you’re talking with may provide some sense of normalcy.

Minimize News and Social Media Exposure 

The news and social media play off our fear. The most sensational headlines that draw you in the most play off your emotion, and mainly fear. If you start to feel like your morning news program and reading the newspaper are making you feel unsettled, the best thing to do may be to minimize your intake.

The same can be true for social media. It’s no secret that Facebook can be filled with arguments about politics, religion, or even the seriousness of the coronavirus. It can often take on a negative, combative feeling that’s disruptive for your mental health. One of the best things that you can do to fight depression during quarantine is to minimize your exposure to these two technologies.

Exercise

Sometimes getting the blood flowing can help to improve your mood. Quarantine does not mean that you can’t go outdoors. A walk or bike ride through your neighborhood may make you feel better. Workout videos, yoga, or any other physical movement can also help.

Be Productive in Your Physical World 

Quarantine doesn’t mean that you have to write a book, learn a language, or master a musical instrument. But it is an excellent time to try a new skill. When you test your brain like that you are keeping it occupied from potentially harmful or unproductive thoughts. You don’t necessarily need to share your new talent with the world. This time is for you.

Maybe you’re not ready to make that type of commitment to a new hobby or skill, and that’s ok, too. Simply making the bed, cleaning a room, or otherwise maintaining order in your physical environment can help, too.

Stick to a Schedule

If you’re new to spending this much time at home, it may be tempting to cave into distraction. You may not want to get dressed in the morning. Maybe you’re wanting to watch additional television or talk on the phone all day. It may help to block out time during the day for various activities, and then stay committed to it.

If you are still working, make sure you block out time for that. But it also might help to include time for reading, talking with family and friends, or doing things around the house. This routine can help give you some sense of normalcy, helping you to fight depression during quarantine.

Conclusion

If you notice that your mental health isn’t where it should be, the best thing you can do is to call a doctor or mental health professional. But adjusting your daily routine in some of the ways mentioned above may also help you to fight depression during quarantine.