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Checking in on Your Mental Health During Lockdown

The population of the planet has been told to stay home for the past couple of months while limiting the amount of time we go outside and make social contact with others. 

A deeply unnatural way of living, social-distancing is the only way to limit the spread of Covid-19. 

Aside from the worry about their physical health due to not being allowed outside to do those ‘normal’ activities, there has also been a huge mental health impact as a result. 

Although we have had several weeks of adapting to these new levels of normal, these unprecedented times are still taking their toll on people.  

Stress is a huge factor that impacts us mentally, as well as leading us toward grabbing the Propecia to tackle the inevitable hair loss. It can also affect our sleep and concentration on a daily basis. 

Typically, guys won’t talk about mental health, however, here are a few things to do that can help keep your mental health in check during a time of a global pandemic. 


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Get Moving 

A great way to kill time as well as getting healthy is to work out at home- it also saves money on gym memberships, too.

Thankfully during this online age, there is a huge range of options to get our bodies moving. They can range from dusting off the hand weights and workout DVDs, to HIIT workouts on YouTube, or on other apps and websites dedicated to at-home workouts.

Lots of these platforms are offering their resources for free or with an extended trial period, so there’s no excuse!

Any way you can get your body moving and your heart pumping will release those feel-good endorphins which are excellent for physical and mental health. 

Go For a Walk in Nature 

People living in cities know that it can be challenging to dodge past people at the best of times, not to mention when we have been instructed to stay 6 feet apart from others. Thankfully, with the use of a car, we are able to find this outdoor space in the form of the country’s many beautiful parks. When walking, it’s easier to maintain the difference- even if you occasionally have to verge off the path to make way for people walking in the opposite direction! 

Studies have shown that spending time outside in green and blue spaces has a positive impact on our mental health, as does breathing in the fresh air.

No matter how you do it, make sure to get outside in nature as often as you can. 

Establish a Routine 

Humans thrive on routine and knowing what’s coming next at the best of times, and this is even more important during a time of uncertainty.

If working from home, as tempting as it may be to start work as soon as you open your eyes in the morning, it’s important to stay in a ritual. Take the time to shower and get dressed where you can. Eat a good breakfast and then get started with work. 

Take plenty of breaks to stand up away from your laptop, and move around. When your workday finishes, take the time to transition into time away from the computer- maybe go for a walk, or prepare a meal. 

Stay Socially Connected 

Humans are intrinsically social beings. So, being apart during times of crisis when we’re more drawn to being with others,  will have an inevitable impact on our mental health.  

While physically apart from others, staying in contact is very important to keep your mental health in check. 

Text, email, or posting updates on social media are good ways of staying connected with people in our lives, but nothing beats picking up the phone to speak to people or dialing into a video conference. There are even apps where you can watch streaming services and video chat with loved ones at the same time- so there’s no excuse to stay connected even during downtime. 

Even better, if possible, why not take the time to meet a friend for a socially distanced walk in the park? That way you get social interaction with benefits of being outside. 

Take The Time to Be Creative 

Escaping the harsh realities of the real world and taking the time to practice something creative is excellent for your mental health.

If you like doing creative things such as playing a musical instrument, writing or pursuing art activities, you now have the time to practice these activities as your leisure. 

If you always wanted to learn an instrument, but haven’t had the time, you can do so by following tutorials on youtube or by downloading apps that work to teach you how to play. 

Writers may finally have time to think about their next poem, blog, or novel idea. Musicians, their next song.

Some performers are taking to social media to stream concerts from their living rooms into the living rooms of those watching them. A great way of being able to stay connected and use your creativity. 

Take More Naps 

People are good at dealing with challenging situations. Bodies naturally create responses to these moments such as sweat to cool us down during exercise, or goose pimples to warm us up when we get cold. 

Several weeks of social distancing may well have lost its novelty by now and will be taking its toll. 

During this time, it’s even more important to listen to your physical needs and not push them to one side. However, doing this is counterproductive- like not eating when you need to makes you hangry and unable to concentrate. 

The same goes for sleep. We’re in a pretty weird spot at the moment, and you may find yourself increasingly tired- for example, falling asleep in front of shows that would usually have you gripped. 

Ignoring these signs of exhaustion will impact more so later on down the line. If you need to sleep- sleep. No, you’re not a toddler, but you’re still fighting your way through some pretty difficult times.