How to cope with isolation these days?
Human beings are social animals. They are called that because of their dependency to survive on other human beings. But, the aftermath of COVID-19 has forced us to live in isolation for the sake of survival. We are forced to live alone to keep living.
All these measures, though important for human survival has started to have adverse psychological effects on us. Thus, to cope up with these side-effects, we have gathered some tips and tricks for all of us to follow to keep our sanity in isolation in check.
Leverage your time to achieve self-awareness
Consider this isolation as a time to discover yourself. Start working on finding your strengths and weaknesses. A 2017 systematic review of studies conducted from 1950 to 2016 published in the journal of Public Health found a significant correlation between isolation and poor mental health.
So, whether you are quarantined due to suspected exposure or just avoiding social contact to stop the spread of the virus, feeling tensed, depressed, and or anxious is completely normal and to be expected.
Perform SWOT analysis
The method we are prescribing is to perform a SWOT Analysis. Now how would we define SWOT? It is really simple. SWOT is an abbreviation of Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats. This method will allow you to analyze yourself and will point out the areas you need to work on. You can use this method in every walk of life, but it is highly functional in this context. More information can be found on Toolshero.com.
SWOT Analysis will allow you to figure out a goal for yourself to achieve and point out all the threats that might intervene in your progress. Therefore, we recommend you to utilize this time and be a better version of yourself once you come out of this lockdown.
Overcome your grief
Another reason for feeling isolated is the loss of a loved one; someone who has been by your side for so long suddenly passes away can have a profound impact on one’s mental health. To cope with it, famous Swiss psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross proposed the Kubler-Ross Stages of Grief. This method will guide you through the five stages of grief, namely denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and anger, making you a better person by the end of the journey.
These steps can be used to suppress the feelings of isolation and can make your lockdown feel more like a self-exploration journey than a burden.
Steps you can take to avoid feeling anxious
Be social first; you have to know the difference between social distancing and physical distancing. You are required to maintain physical distancing, not a social one. You should try to call your loved ones. Video call your friends and family members. Tell them how you feel. And try to support each other during these tough times.
1. Spend time with people at home
You should take this opportunity to spend quality time with your family. Play healthy games with them. Solve some puzzles or bring out that old baseball glove to have a game of catch with your kids.
Reach out to people if you are feeling isolated and cannot cope up with it. Talk to a psychiatrist or a friend to let them know how you feel.
2. Take a break from the news.
One of the best things you can do right now is to avoid the news. It is not healthy for you to be glued to the TV. Listening to grim news all day could harm your mental health.
3. Change your mindset
One of the best things you can do right now is to adjust your mindset according to the situation. It is not healthy to keep thinking of the worst-case scenarios. Start doing some yoga and meditation to keep yourself calm and zen.
Try changing your perspective. Instead of looking at a glass half empty, look at it as half full. Try being positive about things happening around you.
4. Go outdoors
Take your family members and plan a camping trip in the wilderness. You are told to avoid human contact, not natural contact. Take in the fresh air of the woods and feel all kinds of worries evaporating from your body.
5. Help others
Not everyone could be fortunate enough to be able to sit at home while this pandemic comes to an end. Take a look around and try to help your neighbors who are having trouble in this lockdown. Use this time to work on yourself. Start working out and reading good books so you can train your body and mind.
Final word
Social distancing might have caused you to feel alone and anxious. It is a normal reaction for someone who is used to being around their loved ones. To overcome this feeling and to cope with loneliness, one must change his/her thinking and perspectives. You should start seeing the bright side of everything. Having a positive outlook on the world will have an immense effect on your thought process.
Try taking things slow. You do not have to do everything in one day. Relax and watch things unfold around you. Spend some quality time with your family members. Create a SWOT analysis chart on how you can use this time effectively. You might never get this time again. Use this time to gain a skill or work on yourself. You need to focus on coming out of this lockdown as a stronger and a more refined person.
