The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Tough But You Can Be Tougher

If you are like many, COVID-19 restrictions are getting old and your mental health might be suffering. This is very common. We know the steps being taken are important to protect physical health but it doesn’t always make it easier.

You may be tempted to make poor decisions….

We understand that but are confident you can turn those decisions around, laugh a little about even thinking about them, and move on to manage this time in ways that will help you come out stronger and more resilient than before.

Some of the things that will help you through this time are the same things we recommend you put in place every day. It has just become more important for you to put them to work. They include:

Get Active

You don’t have to go to the gym to get a workout. Go for a walk, run, bike ride or have a dance party of one or include friends online to make it a little more interesting.

Practice Gratitude

Each day, think of three things you are grateful for. If you like to journal, write it down. This will make the activity even more powerful and you can look back at it down the road to see what made you happy during this time.

Find Friends That Inspire You To Be Better and Be One For Others

This includes friends and websites that you follow on social media. If you don’t feel better after reading their content and/or connecting with them, limit or eliminate contact with them.

Postpone Any Substance Use

90% of addictions have roots in the teen years. Postponing use to 21 drops the risk below 10%. And, don’t be fooled. Marijuana use during the teen years is strongly correlated with mental health disorders, interferes with sleep, and is shown to reduce IQ.

Plan Ahead

This will help prevent stress and reduce the chance you will make poor decisions for yourself. During this time, we not only recommend that you keep track of when things are due on a calendar, we also recommend you keep a daily routine. You are pretty much in the driver’s seat in figuring out what works best for you so get creative and make sure you add in breaks throughout the day.

Practice Mindfulness

This simple act has so much research backing up its effectiveness to reduce stress, enhance memory, aid in emotional control, etc… that it is well worth giving it a try and adding it to your routine. There are lots of apps out there to get you started. Try some out and see what works for you.

Get 9 Hours of Sleep Each Night

During the teen years, you need this amount of sleep to regulate emotions and keep you performing at your best.

Be a Loyal Friend

This means you want what is best for someone and do not support them when they are making poor decisions. It can take a true friend and leader to say, “That doesn’t sound like a good idea… How about we try this…”

Do Something Kind for Someone Else

This can be as simple as cleaning up the dishes or paying someone a compliment. It is amazing how focusing on someone else’s happiness can make a difference for your own.

Know Your Strengths

This will help you build a solid foundation for happiness. It is why we lead off with the question, What is Your Superpower? We want you focusing on your strengths. We all have weaknesses. Acknowledging them will allow you to seek help when need be. Your strengths will tell you where to focus your energies. You build off of these.

And, if you want more tips, check out Former monk Jay Shetty on how to remain calm, happy and present during COVID-19 pandemic

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