Though put in place with our own safety in the forefront, lock downs can be mentally draining. With a lock down comes many restrictions and less freedom. The stress of having to be indoors day and night can get to us all, but there are ways to counter the mental effects of a lock down. We’ve compiled a list of 6 ways in which you can increase brain stimulation during a lock down and these are as follows:
- Practice gratitude
- Follow a routine
- Working out from home
- Get some fresh air
- Make your home more comfortable
- Meditate more often
Practice Gratitude
Focusing on the positive aspects of life and any situation can really keep your mind at ease and help you feel better. The brain can play mind games on you that leave you focusing more on the negative aspects of life. You can overcome these mind games by focusing on the littlest aspects to be grateful for.
Commence your mornings by jotting down things that you are grateful for, no matter how small. Get a gratitude journal that you use only for writing down all that you are grateful for. Mention everything such as being grateful for the gift of life. You might also find it helpful to share your thoughts of gratitude with friends and family instead of writing it down.
Follow a Routine
Having a routine helps in maintaining order especially when there are children involved. With a lock down comes the closing of schools which means the kids are at home. This does not however, mean that all routine must be boycotted. Keeping to a daily routine as much as possible can save you time and help decrease decision fatigue.
Even though they don’t have to wake up early to go to school, try to ensure that they have a schedule for waking up, eating and sleeping. This will ensure some order and mental ease for yourself.
Working Out from Home
You’ve probably heard about lock down weight or even gained some yourself. The best way to counteract this is by working out. Working out does not have to mean going to the gym. You can achieve tremendous results even when working out from home. Working out is not only good for the body but also for mental health. Working out has many benefits, some of which are :
- Stress reduction
- Sharper memory
- Better mood
- Development of new brain cells
- Relaxation
- Increased confidence
- Decrease in depression and anxiety
- Increased energy
- Better quality of sleep
Get Some Fresh Air
Find a way to help you get some outside air and some time to indulge in nature. Nature can be very calming and all the fresh oxygen is good for your brain. If you live in the country or in the suburbs, it’s easier for you just to walk outside and get some fresh air. However, if you live in the city, you may have to drive to a park to experience more tranquility and relaxation. When doing so make sure to maintain social distancing, which is the main purpose of a lock down.
- 20% of the oxygen we breathe is utilized for brain function. This is why the more oxygen you breathe, the clearer you think and the more focused you are.
- The release of serotonin, a hormone that promotes good mood and happiness, is affected by the amount of oxygen in your body and blood. This is another reason why going outside lives you feeling refreshed.
- Breathing in fresh air is known to decrease airborne diseases. Bacteria and viruses are less prevalent in fresh air.
Make Your Home More Comfortable
Cleaning out your home and making it more comfortable to live in can help you feel more productive. Since you’re going to be indoors a lot more, it’s probably wise to make it the most comfortable it can be. Make sure to create space and allow fresh air to flow in. Take your time to arrange your home in a more satisfying way. This arouses the feeling of being in control which is good for the mind.
Meditate more often
This is one of the oldest tricks in the book and with good reason at that. The art of meditation has a lot of research to back it. Meditation has been proven to decrease depression and anxiety. Meditation is also known to increase the volume of certain parts of the brain.
If meditation doesn’t, work simply do some breathing exercises; these are also effective.
Different zodiac signs exercise their brains in different ways. Some zodiac signs also require more brain stimulation than others. Some exercise their minds through watching TV and reading while others opt for meditation. So, take some time to research your zodiac sign and its mental health needs.
The key to maintaining mental health during a lock down is simply leading a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Every little aspect counts, even what you eat, so take that in to consideration. Getting through a lock down is a matter of “mind over matter”. You can overcome the mind games by following the above-mentioned suggestions to promote more brain stimulation.
