Coping with the Mental Health Toll of a Covid New Year

The psychological impact of discovering that Covid has not left us with the year 2020, has been an emotional tipping point from optimism to flat-out funk. 2021 started with a spiralling second wave and it’s clear that we will have to brace ourselves for a longer period of uncertainty and restriction. A collective feeling of gloom pervades.

The new year usually marks the beginning of a cycle of renewal, which is of course entirely constructed by our own collective agreement on the idea of a new year and not the reality of some drastic change on a new date. Without the power we usually have to make decisions and plan ahead, we feel disconnected from the rhythms of our usual lives – leaving many of us feeling a bit at sea. So how will you motivate yourself into the new year when it feels like so many of our plans are just made to be cancelled?

Lower Your Expectations

Psychologists have long suggested that perfectionism is the cause of many mental health issues from anxiety to depression. The pre-Covid notion of the person who has and does it all has been firmly shelved in favour of a more realistic and kinder take on life. Having too many plans, lists and expectations will cue you up for disappointment, so have some goals but make sure they are realistic and accept that you may have to have a Plan B.

Keep a Routine

Letting your expectations slide a bit should not include letting your health routine and self-care slide. Get up in time to start your day as you normally would, keep your hygiene habits, even if you are not going out, and make sure your day includes some exercise – preferably a walk outside. Be sure to create firm work-life boundaries, closing your laptop at a reasonable hour and spending the rest of your evening in a bubble bath, cooking a healthy meal and watching your favourite show. Don’t be tempted to stay up late. Night time often leads to heightened anxiety for people because there are fewer distractions and all the big problems seem much bigger.

Put the Right Stuff into Your Body

Bingeing on carbohydrates and ready-to-eat meals may take the time pressure off your day but refined food often leads to a drop in mood and is not a nutritious choice. Make sure you are still getting in lots of fruit and vegetables to balance your wellbeing, boost your immunity  and ensure that you don’t gain lots of weight. This is also a good time to investigate supporting your diet and lifestyle with additional reinforcements.

CBD has been found to reduce anxiety and has a growing number of followers who swear that they are calmer, more focused and balanced since taking a daily dose of CBD. As everyone has a different reaction to CBD, it can take some time to find the right dose and the best time of day to take it but there are virtually no negative or intoxicating side-effects to taking CBD to support your wellbeing so it is well worth a try. HealthEuropa reports that a 2017 poll found that 41% of CBD users were swapping their anti-anxiety medications for CBD, with 40% attesting to the fact that CBD was more effective in relieving medical conditions like anxiety; a great mental helper for these tough times.

Take the Long Term View

It’s important to put it all in perspective. Humans have been through far worse and survived and even thrived afterwards. The Spanish flu of 1918 and 1918 came at the end of a devastating World War I, the war killed 40 million people and subsequent Spanish flu added another 50 million lives to the global death toll. Those who survived the Spanish flu grew up to face World War II. At the time of the Spanish flu, scientists had not yet been able to see a virus because their microscopes weren’t powerful enough! We have come a long way and although Covid has been a deeply humbling and upsetting experience for humanity with much individual pain and loss, it pales into history when compared with what has come before. Human resilience is exceptional. Take a moment to remind yourself that we can conquer this and we will.