Psychological wellbeing during lockdown

"Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It's about how you drive, not where you're going."- Anonymous

In today's scenario, mental health of people has been severely affected. The world has undergone tremendous changes in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Lockdown has become the norm to contain the spread of the disease. During these times, while taking care of the body one should also consider the wellbeing of the mind. Psychological wellbeing is attained by achieving a state of balance affected by both challenging and rewarding life events.

Psychological wellbeing refers to experiencing a positive set of emotions. A sense of fulfillment and a general purpose of life brings about the psychological wellbeing of an individual. It is accompanied by personal growth and accomplishments. Self-confidence and a positive self-esteem are indicators of psychological wellbeing. Such an individual can build and maintain healthy and positive relationships with others. Psychological wellbeing is attained when there is a balance of emotions. It is negatively affected by unresolved challenges on a personal or professional level, unfulfilled tasks at hand, certain circumstances over which an individual has no power and feel helpless. These cause anxiety, mood swings and depression and severely affect an individual's psychological wellbeing.

An individual can adopt certain measures to ensure psychological wellbeing during lockdown. The first and foremost is maintaining a day-to-day routine. Life before and during lockdown is different in many aspects. With restricted travel and movement, an individual ends up with extra hours each day. This leads to procrastinating tasks and chores which ultimately end up unfinished. This causes stress and anxiety and affects psychological wellbeing. A routine ensures discipline and organized management. A sense of accomplishment triggers positive feelings and happiness.

The process of learning is never ending. With the lockdown and the extra hours, an individual can invest in learning a new skill or improve on a skill that has been lying dormant in the past due to time constraints and other pressures. Learning new languages can also be another way. Research suggests that learning new language helps the brain and improves mental health. This will bring a sense of productivity and the associated satisfaction which in turn enhances psychological wellbeing.

Physical activity gives a great boost to an individual's mind. An active body will host an active mind. Physical activity in the form of aerobic exercise, dance or yoga can lift up an individual's mood and ensure physical and psychological wellbeing.

Psychological wellbeing is also brought about through building connections. Individuals thrive on conversations and socializing. Lockdown has brought a stop to the physical socializing tools like tea or dinner parties, functions and celebrations. Staying connected through technology and engaging in conversations with friends and family members will bring psychological wellbeing of an individual.

Lockdown has affected different people in different ways. Every individual has different mechanisms to deal with the lockdown. Maintaining cheerful thoughts and indulging in fun activities is a challenge during the lockdown. But these are the limited options available in the present scenario for psychological wellbeing. It is important to stay sane while staying safe.

Pratiti Katyayan,

Cotton University