Caring for mental and physical health in quarantine

By | January 23, 2020

Due to the pandemic of the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus , COVID19 , governments and different entities have established measures to reduce the speed of spread so that health services do not collapse . Among the announced measures, is social isolation and staying home if the activities you do allow it. For this reason, the way in which our day to day develops and, therefore, the activities we like to do, where we want to be and with whom we want to be, has rapidly changed. Since human beings are social by nature, it is necessary and more important than ever to take steps to take care of both physical and mental health.

Staying informed about the progress of this pandemic and its consequences in your community and the world is important, but sometimes this news can cause you to feel anxious, distressed or afraid. Therefore, what you can do is decrease the frequency in which you see, hear or read news about COVID-19 . Allow yourself to do it at a specific time, never more than twice a day. Also, it is important that you inform yourself through official means and do not let yourself be influenced by rumors or the famous fake-news. To do this, we recommend you write “Hello” to the official WhatsApp of the World Health Organization through this link:

WhatsApp WHO.

Here you can find out the latest figures, protection measures, frequently asked questions and rumors about this new coronavirus.

Caring for mental and physical health in quarantine

On the other hand, it only follows official accounts of local, national and international health authorities and serious media. Avoid, in this regard, believing news that you get in messages or that you see on social networks. Furthermore, do not share any data without first checking it. This way, you will feel calmer and prevent your contacts from feeling more stress.

During the quarantine that is probably active in your country, you will likely feel that you are wasting your time and that you are not productive. We recommend that you maintain routines and schedules for the different activities that you have or want to do during the day and week. They can be activities that you have never done or that you already did before (in case you do not expose yourself or others). Schedule, for example, the deep cleaning of your house, keep in touch with your loved ones through phone calls, email, social networks and video calls, among other ways to feel close to them. It is also an opportunity to study and learn new skills such as singing, painting, cooking, among others.

An extremely important activity that you should do almost daily is exercise to maintain good physical health. You can exercise by practicing yoga, dancing or walking inside your house for 30 minutes a day and, if your local regulations allow it, you can go for a walk or a run. Of course, always keeping a healthy distance with other people.

Other suggestions we give you is that you eat healthy foods so that you have a strong immune system; This includes limiting your consumption of alcohol and sugary drinks as well . Also avoid smoking, as doing so increases the chances that you will have serious complications if you become ill with COVID-19. Also, if you work or study at home for long periods of time, remember to take 3-minute breaks every 30 minutes to get up and stretch a bit.. Sedentary life could be dangerous, so you can study and work standing up, if possible, on and off. On the other hand, if you suffer from a disease and are undergoing treatment, it is important that you provide the necessary medicines, always avoiding panic purchases. Stock up on the necessary amount of medicine for about a month, so that you avoid constantly going to the doctor.

Remember, it is totally normal for you to feel fearful, anxious, stressed or lonely. So it is important to be aware of your needs and feelings, as well as the people around you; talking to your loved ones about this can help. Do healthy activities that you find fun and relaxing while taking the recommended protective measures . With your help, public health institutions will be able to cope with this pandemic by delaying and containing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.