One of the hardest things for me during this pandemic has been having to stay inside the house. I am a very adventurous person; I love going out and having fun, hanging out with friends and being social. So when I heard that I could no longer do any of those things I was extremely upset. As time went by I started feeling depressed. I was just sleeping, doing school work and binge-watching shows on Netflix. This was scary because I have dealt with bad depression and I did not want to go back to that dark place that I was once in. I then started to realize that I had a choice, I did not have to be sad all the time. There are things that I can still do and be happy and I want to share what I have been doing with you!
- Going For Walks
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I love being outdoors, so I decided to start taking walks around my neighborhood. Going for walks keeps you physically active and can be a source of relaxation. Yes, it is not the same as going hiking or going to the lake with friends, but you still get a breath of fresh air. You are also taking time from being indoors all day staring at a screen and going outside and enjoying the day. Staying physically active is healthy for both your body and mental health!
- Talking To Friends
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Although we may not be able to see our friends we can call or facetime them. This is a great way to catch up with them and take your mind off of any stress that you may be dealing with. Completely isolating yourself from the rest of the world can have a negative effect on your mental health. Especially for those who are usually social people. You can still be social, just from a distance!
- Watch The Sunset
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Something that I have really enjoyed doing has been watching the sunset. This is something that has helped me cope with feeling depressed during this time. I noticed that going out to watch the sunset and shutting my phone off gives me inspiration. I have felt heavily unmotivated recently and doing this has helped me get my motivation back. It also gives you a break from the real world. Making this a daily thing also gives you something to look forward to which is something that we all need right now. I enjoy journaling while watching the sunset. I like writing about how my day went, my thoughts and feelings and future goals that I have. Journaling can also help you track your progress and look back at how you coped with difficult situations.