Maintaining good mental health is essential

The last few months have left many people feeling shaken. Life can be more difficult and harder to manage when they are so strongly affected by things far outside their area of control. But one of the secrets to getting through difficult times is for people to focus more heavily on those areas of their lives which they can control.

A starting point is their physical health. While that certainly means doing all they can to minimize exposure to the COVID-19 virus, it also means working to stay in the best physical condition possible.

Regular physical exercise is important regardless of a major health crisis. But with today’s worldwide health problems, it’s vital for people to do all they can to help their body face any threats it may encounter. Although the local gym or YMCA may have had to close, it isn’t an excuse to become a sloth. Want a home workout? Check the literally thousands of online videos offering exercise advice and workout sessions for people in all types of physical condition.

If workout videos aren’t to their liking, simple activities like daily walks not only in help improve physical fitness but also mental fitness.

The longterm isolation brought on by the coronavirus pandemic can take a very real mental toll. People have less contact with others, they find themselves bored, and it certainly can be a factor in aggravating mental health issues, especially depression.

Improving mental fitness isn’t much different from working on physical fitness. That daily walk, for example, is a time to ignore the latest news, to forget about how life has changed and to be aware of nature as they clear their mind. An effective way to lower stress and fight depression is simply to refocus the mind on pleasant, enjoyable things rather than to worry about all that is wrong.

There are numerous activities that can help accomplish that refocusing. Are they staying in touch or renewing contact with family and old friends? Yes, the phone and internet are still working just fine. What about taking up that hobby they abandoned a couple of years ago, or working through that pile of books they’ve been promising to get to some day?

Maintaining positive mental health is important throughout life, but it is especially so during rough times such as people are experiencing today.

Counseling Corner is provided by the American Counseling Association. Send comments and questions to [email protected] or visit http://www.counseling.org.