Mental health concerns are increasing during the pandemic due to grief, loss, financial stressors, fear of the virus, and isolation. Since there is a strong connection between the mind and body, all of these issues can negatively impact our mental and physical health.

Research has shown that social isolation and chronic loneliness can increase rates of depression and anxiety, cause cardiovascular issues, impair our cognitive abilities, and create sleep concerns. A recent study has also found that research participants who were quarantined during the pandemic were significantly more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than those who were not, particularly in areas where there was not a high rate of Coronavirus.

Part of the reason why depression and anxiety is more prevalent while quarantining is due to lack of connection with other people. We are wired to connect with other human beings. Being around friends and family can improve our mental and physical health. Another reason why mental health issues may be increasing during the depression is more down time. While having time for rest and not having a full calendar can be important for self-care, excessive downtime with little to do can increase ruminating thoughts. Ruminating thoughts can result in anxious “what-if” thinking and sad/hopeless thoughts, especially for people prone to anxiety and depression.

Although life looks different for many of us during this time, we can find creative ways to have social and recreational needs met while keeping ourselves and others safe. Planning activities and different types of socialization can help to decrease distress and improve overall mental well-being. Research shows that when our mental health declines and we experience chronic stress, our physical health starts to decline as well. Being purposeful in finding lower risk activities where we build connection with others and stimulate our minds can help to offset some of this stress and bring some feelings of normalcy.

The following are ideas of activities to try in the current and upcoming seasons. These activities can be adjusted to include physical distancing of 6+ feet apart when around other people, wearing masks, and sanitizing/hand-washing.

Online Activities
Teletherapy
Zoom/face-time/Facebook messenger videos
Virtual book club
Virtual religious meetings
Virtual support groups such as AA/NA
Virtual classes
Online game night/virtual Pictionary

Outdoor Activities
Rafting
Kayaking/paddle boarding
Tubing
Boating
Fishing
Golfing
Hiking
Tennis/badminton
Swimming in river
Walking in neighborhood
Historical site seeing
Drive-in movies
Physical distance BBQ (bring your own food, set chairs 6+ feet apart)
Camping with family/housemates
Scenic drives
Riding bikes
Long-boarding/skateboarding
Star gazing
Family picnic
Gardening
Picking fruit and making recipes
Build a snowman/snow angel
Sledding
Berry picking
Pumpkin patch
Fire pit
Slip-n-slide
Water balloons
Soak in a natural hot spring
Physical distance ice skating
Snowmobiling
Snowshoeing
Snowboarding/skiing
Snowball fight
Horseback riding
Fly a kite
Chalk sidewalk
Create an outdoor obstacle course
Paint and hide rocks (Spokane Rocks)
Outdoor yoga/meditation
Earthing

Indoor Activities/Hobbies
Yoga/meditation
Crafting
Study genealogy (ancestry.com)
Cooking meals/baking
Making cider
Board games
Make homemade ice cream
Painting/sculpting/drawing/collaging/etc.
Canning
Sewing
Rent a cabin in the mountains
Make a bird house
Camp out in the family room
Decorate sugar cookies
Puzzles
Create mosaic stones
Paint rocks
Sensory activities: sandbox, water table, play dough, slime

Volunteering
Write thank you/I’m thinking of you cards to people
Send care packages to someone in need
Activity packs for nursing home residents
Donate to a cause
Food banks

References:
Fang, T., Liang, J., Zhang, H. Kelifa, M. M., He, Q., et. al. (2020). Covid-19 related depression and anxiety among quarantined respondents. Psychology & Health. doi:10.1080/08870446.2020.1782410

Novotney, A. (2019). The risks of social isolation. American Psychological Association, 50(5).

Written by Taylor Hocking LMFTA SUDP
Taylor@charmedcounseling.com www.charmedcounseling.com