Relationship With YOU During COVID

By Kenni Walker, LPC, MS, MBA

We have adjusted to eight months of the pandemic. Most of us no longer wear gloves but we are most certainly keeping our physical distance from strangers, wearing masks, wiping down, and pumping sanitizer.

Keeping our distance from strangers is pretty straight forward, but what about balancing a healthy distance from those whom we are in relationship? With some of us at home more, with the kids more, with each other more, we may feel pressure or anxiety to be in full-on relationship mode because we are around the ones who are close to us.

This is not a reminder to be supportive and available for those around you. Of course, continue to be loving to those around you in this extremely challenging time. This is a reminder to begin or re-establish your own self-care routine.

A self-care or mental health maintenance routine doesn’t have to be a grand 12-point checklist. It can be a minute as a walk in nature, a long bath, reading new or spiritual material, or writing or doing creative activities. The key is to structure your day so that your mind can breathe and expand in some way. Clearing ourselves of the same thoughts churning in our brain over and over again can lessen depressive and anxiety symptoms.

As you may already know, the body and the mind are deeply connected and the physical engagement of even reading or writing serves as a mental stimulant. Research supports the recommendation that 30 minutes per day of mind clearing and growth activities can be extremely beneficial. Being mindful about mental health means that we are intentional in allotting time for ourselves. When you are taking care of yourself, you show up for others better.