May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and taking steps to care for yourself and others is important, especially in light of social distancing due to COVID-19. According to a 2017 national survey, 1 in 5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year[1]. There are many mental health conditions, a few of which are depression, anxiety and PTSD.
Something you can do to stay mentally and physically healthy is to create a routine that is right for you. Everyone has different schedules, diets and exercise needs, so don’t compare your routine to others. Instead, draw inspiration and motivation from what you see people doing around you, do some research and implement what is healthy for your body and mind.
When making changes to a routine, it is important to remember to start small so you are not overwhelmed. Habits take time to build and break, so don’t go into something new expecting to have it nailed down the very next day. Give yourself time and grace.
One small step MedForms has taken to build a healthier working routine is to take a short walk twice a day. Breaking up the time we sit at our desks does wonders. It gets our blood circulating and gives our minds a moment to relax and refocus. We come back to our desks energized and ready to tackle whatever comes next.
For more tips and suggestions on building healthy habits, please click here.
Another way to improve mental health is to connect with others. Although this may be difficult to do during this time of social distancing, there are some tips for staying connected.
Give a compliment: It’s amazing how far a kind word can go. Brighten someone’s day and spark an encouraging conversation.
Schedule social time: Although it may be tempting to just settle in front of the TV after a long day, it is important to maintain relationships with others.
Visit virtually: Send a text, do a video call with a close friend or join a group video chat so that you are not alone during this time. Remember, people enjoy your company and want to spend time with you, even if they can’t meet with you face-to-face.
Organize a group activity: Plan/take part in a virtual trivia night for your friends; create fun games for your coworkers to bring a bright spot to the day. At MedForms, we have played a few virtual games, including recreating famous paintings with items found in our houses and submitting photos of creative snacks for a best-quarantine-snack contest.
Our thoughts are with our clients as we all keep doing our best to keep ourselves and others safe. MedForms’ employees are continuing to work from home. We are still operating at our normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you have questions, please call (615) 386-6320 or visit medforms.com. If you would like to place a reorder for booklets, please fill out our online form.
