Millions of Americans feel isolated during the pandemic, and it’s only going to worsen as the years go by. Understanding the impacts of isolation on mental health is essential for anyone living in the US right now.
Isolation and Mental Health
Social isolation plays a big part in mental health. Social isolation or loneliness is usually responsible for feelings of depression and anxiety. This eventually leads to mental disorders that can affect the way how people function every day. It can also be detrimental to how people generally live their lives. Alleviating these feelings of isolation can be helpful if you want to live a healthy mental life. Here are some things you can do to alleviate the feelings of isolation during the pandemic.
Call Someone
The most obvious way to alleviate isolation is to call someone you know, may it be a family member or a friend. Nowadays, the internet makes this so much easier. But believe it or not, there are still many people who can’t do this, especially when they are in a city where they don’t know anyone and don’t have access to the Internet. Making friends during the pandemic can be tough, and the next thing you can do is keep yourself busy until the pandemic becomes more manageable.
Distract Yourself
Distracting yourself from the thoughts of isolation is one temporary way you can handle it during the pandemic. There are a lot of ways you can distract yourself while you’re at home. You can buy a book or watch a movie. You can also play video games or visit the internet. Another way you can distract yourself is to fiddle with some things you’ve been willing to learn for quite some time. You can also learn a new hobby such as playing the piano.
Play the Piano
It’s been known for a long time that music can help ease the soul, and playing it can be a creative way to satisfy one’s need for attention. A study has even proven this, finding that playing a musical instrument, specifically, the piano can help improve self-esteem and decrease feelings of isolation. This is a perfect hobby to learn during the pandemic.
Currently, it’s tough to look for a piano instructor who will teach you how to play the instrument in real life because of the pandemic. If you’re looking for someone to teach you how to play the piano, the best place to look for them is on the internet. We assure you that an online piano lesson is as effective as a physical lesson because of the advancements in technology. Once you’ve learned how to play the piano, you can start doing it anytime you want. Eventually, you’ll start to feel the benefits we have listed above and make you feel more at ease in your home.
Playing the piano can even help you with building a career. Only about 25% of the given population can play the piano, and only very few play it professionally. Learning to play the piano sets you up for a career in music that can earn you about $16,000 a year if you only plan to do it occasionally. The best pianists can earn upwards of $127,00 a year. That’s not a bad career path for someone who only wished to alleviate the feelings of isolation during the pandemic. If you don’t feel like learning anything during this pandemic, don’t feel bad about it. Being lazy is being okay. However, one essential thing you should learn is self-compassion.
Practice Self-Compassion
Self-compassion is an essential trait during this particular time. If you’re going to be stuck with yourself at home with no one to interact with, you must become kinder to yourself.
Self-compassion is tough, and not a lot of people learn it in their lives. But it’s essential if you want to become a better person for yourself and others. Some self-compassion exercises you can do are related to self-awareness exercises. You can do breathing exercises when you’re alone or feeling anxious. You can also do self-affirmation if you’re having negative thoughts. Giving yourself a break from work time to time is also a good example of self-compassion.
By the time you start to do all of these things often, you start developing self-compassion. Trust us. This singular trait is going to let you pass not only the pandemic but many other challenges along the way. It will make you become more resilient and more understanding towards yourself.
These simple ways can help you reduce the feelings of loneliness during this pandemic. Ensure that you do them as often as you can. Eventually, you’ll be able to weather this storm and become a better person after it.
