How to improve your mental health during this coronavirus pandemic: 5 tips from doctors

 How to improve your mental health during this coronavirus pandemic: 5 tips from doctors

The stress of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic along with the 2020 election and the upcoming holiday season have increased mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

The following tips to improve mental health include Dr. McLean Hospital clinical psychologist Dr. Compiled from Gillian Galen and Harvard psychiatrist epidemiologist Kirsten Koenen:

Wake up and get ready every day. Spend time outside the house at least one hour per day.

Work on being kind and compassionate. Evaluate relationships rather than assess them.

Holiday holiday celebrations to safely include joyous parts.

Identify and accept lost loved ones by talking about them and sharing good memories.

Something creative and productive such as journaling, baking or learning a new skill.

Both Galen and Koen state that when it comes to an epidemic, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it won't go on forever, which is an important piece of positivity to focus on.

He said that taking time off from work, exercising, getting sound sleep and eating right are also important tips to help with symptoms of depression and anxiety.