Ladies, if you are feeling more drained and exhausted than usual, there is a valid reason why. According to a report by a Canadian news channel, women have reported more mental health concerns than men during the COVID-19 outbreak, a time when lockdowns and social restrictions are put in place.
Women are burdened more because they are more likely to be employed in service-industry jobs that received the hardest hit at the height of the implementation of quarantines. The financial loss and pressure to provide and take care of the family are taking a toll on the mental health of female workers. Thankfully, there are things that you can personally do to ease the impact of what is currently happening around.
Here are five ways you can try to take care of your mental health as a woman:
- Take care of your body. Physical and mental health are interrelated. If you want to minimize mental distress, start with taking special care of the vessel of your soul – your body. You only have one, to begin with, so it only makes sense that we keep it in tip-top condition.
Remember to do the following things:
- Drink lots of water. Hydrate yourself a lot. Depriving your body of water will give you a cranky disposition and leave you feeling fatigued and “dry”. Do not forget to get your 8 glasses worth of water a day.
- Eat healthy meals. Start home cooking. Buying local produce and making meals at home is cheaper and healthier than ordering greasy fast food dishes.
- Exercise regularly. Healthy meals and routine physical activity make a good combination. A quick Zumba or aerobic exercise in the morning will lift your mood and help decrease depressive or anxious feelings.
- Get enough sleep. You work hard for your family but you also need to recharge. Sleeping seven to nine hours a day will give you optimum energy to get through the day. Plus, getting enough slumber will allow your body to do routine body repairs.
- Join online support groups for women. If you are still finding it difficult to deal with the rapid changes brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak, try seeking support groups on the web. You can start by searching for women-centered private groups on Facebook. It is always comforting to share your burdens with people who understand. Unload your long-kept baggage. Ask questions. Look for advice. Give advice. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing the fact that other women got your back. That is the beauty of sisterhood. If you are not the sharing type, you can search for remarkable women in social media that you can follow. Find inspiration from successful women all over the world. Read about their struggles and comebacks and let them inspire you to strive and hope for a better tomorrow.
- Temper your expectations. A lot of things can disappoint you. You may suffer twangs of heartbreak because of unmet expectations from friends, family, loved ones, your government, circumstances, and even yourself. Do learn how to manage those expectations by understanding the people who disappoint you or thinking about the valid reasons why things happen the way they do. Set realistic goals. Write down your plans and goals but do not expect to realize them immediately. Learn to progress one step a time.
- Avoid things that are detrimental to you, physically and mentally. Having a glass of wine before sleeping is an acceptable ritual. But drowning yourself in alcohol daily up to the point that it has already begun interfering with your relationships, work, and life will not solve anything and will only make matters worse. Get rid of things that are physically harmful to you, like alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. For your sanity, stay away from toxic and negative people in your life in the meantime.
- Learn when to get help. You are a strong, independent woman, but you must know your limits too. There are times when you have to admit to yourself that you need another person to make sense of what is happening around you. If Batman has Robin, and Jordan has Pippen – you can surely learn to seek help from another person when needed. If anxiety and stress are overwhelming your right now, you can always choose to talk to a licensed medical professional who can guide you towards healing. If you do not have a family psychologist or physician, you can still get help if you are mentally distressed. If you cannot visit a walk-in clinic Guelph because of restrictions, you can still find doctors online. Online consultations can help you get diagnosed and treated without leaving the comfort of your home.
As a woman who cares for the family, it is certainly no sin to also take care of yourself. You have the power to change yourself and to walk towards the path that is better for your body and mind. Start today.