With the pandemic going on during the holidays, it’s difficult to stay positive and keep your head up. Everyone’s mental health is being affected by the pandemic and now that the holidays are canceled, how could we ever maintain a good, positive mindset and mental health?

Quarantine for the coronavirus outbreak had begun around spring break in many states around March. It was only in May that the outbreak of the virus had been declared a global pandemic. For many students, quarantine has lasted almost 6 months, and now with remote learning, many of them are unable to leave their homes and are in front of their electronic devices most of the time due to school. How is this affecting their mental health you might ask? The pandemic has caused people to be socially isolated from their loved ones, other people, and the outside world. Little to no interaction with others can be a severe problem for someone’s mental health because it is proven by research that social isolation can increase one’s depression, weaken their immune system, and affect their sleep schedule.

Now that the holidays are just around the corner in the middle of the pandemic, it will be difficult for families to enjoy the annual festivities with one another; this could lead to more mental health problems. Not being surrounded by a good crowd (especially one’s family) can cause one to feel lonely and has the same issues as social isolation. Spending time with loved ones is what makes the holidays enjoyable for everyone, but with the global pandemic in the way, all kinds of get-togethers don’t seem to be the best idea.

Studies have shown that too much screen time can be harmful to developing mental health and that it is difficult for the mind to process not speaking face to face with someone. Things such as zoom classes, excessive time on your devices, and other electronic activities can worsen one’s mental health. It affects sleeping patterns, too much work can increase stress and doesn’t motivate students as much to complete their work as in-person learning does.

How do we make sure everyone affected by the pandemic maintains good mental health? There are a wide variety of activities that can keep one’s mental health in check and other practices. While it seems like the most basic piece of advice, exercise is one of the best ways to keep good mental health. While there are no gyms open, running in your neighborhood, bike riding, and at home workouts, work just as well as going to the gym. During the holidays, many people will be unable to contact their family due to the pandemic, but there are still ways to communicate with one another from long distances; video chats, phone calls, and even meeting in person while maintaining the health protocols are all acceptable and easy ways to keep in contact with your family.