No matter where in the world you are, COVID has impacted aspects of our lives. For some of us, we’ve lost our jobs or had our hours reduced. Others may have lost loved ones due to the virus. Many of us have had to cancel plans, from weddings through to trips overseas. The effects of this pandemic are going to be felt for years and years to come, with no clear end in sight. Most of us haven’t experienced something like this during our lifetime, so our usual coping methods for dealing with day to day stress might not be cutting it. If you’re looking for some tips for staying happy and healthy during the pandemic, read on:

1. Consider Therapy
Whether therapy is something you’ve tried before, or something you’re apprehensive about, there’s so much you can benefit from by doing therapy especially in these uncertain times. A great therapist can help you unravel thoughts and feelings, and give you guidance on what things might serve you to help yourself move forward. Unfortunately we’re unable to change the current situation at hand, but we can change how we react to it. Why not find a therapist in Culver City to help you work through the things that are impacting you the most right now. It’s not uncommon that a stressful situation, like the pandemic, can be triggering for issues from our past that we had long forgotten, causing our mental health to suffer. You don’t have to overcome this alone.

2. Work On Your Health Inside Out
There are so many areas of health that fascinate me. For example, I’ve noticed that without magnesium supplements, my sleep is often broken and doesn’t feel as deep. I’ve also noticed that my mood and emotions are closely tied to my gut health – if I have an upset stomach, that seems to impact my mood greatly. As such, I’ve added in a probiotic to my daily routine and it’s been helping me feel my best. The quality of food we eat can also have a dramatic impact on how good we feel, as well as our energy levels. Focusing on your health with a holistic approach can be a great way to ensure you’re feeling as good as possible.

3. Be Social Safely
Depending on where you are right now, this may be easier or more challenging. If you’re somewhere that’s still having some kind of lockdown, meaning you’re unable to see people outside your household, then this can be quite challenging. You can, if allowed in your area, have ‘social distancing picnics’, choosing to hang out with loved ones from a safer distance. If this isn’t an option, set up regular Google Hangout calls with your closet friends and family members. If you’re somewhere where you are allowed to meet up with people and gather in small groups, have a small group of friends you can meet up with regularly. One of the reasons this pandemic is affecting us all so much is because we are social creatures, and not being able to see those we care about can really impact our happiness as well as overall mental health.

These challenging times will one day be a distant memory, but in the meantime use these tips to feel as happy and healthy as possible during the pandemic.