I Improved My Mental Health During a Pandemic
By: Tiffany Hsu
Tags: Self Care, Depression, Pandemic, 2020, Mental Health

2019 was an arduous year for my mental health. I was struggling with depression. The thing is, I was in denial about it because I wasn’t displaying what I imagined depression to look like. Instead, I called myself lazy and unmotivated.

When the pandemic began, quarantine was mandated, I had to face my depression head-on. I couldn’t ignore it any longer because I would end up in this spiral of self-deprecation and would end up crying. These episodes would happen at least once a week. Because of this, I decided to make a change.

Finding a hobby

Ever since I started college in 2012, I did not have a specific hobby. I remember I would spend an entire afternoon looking for a hobby. I would Google different types of hobbies and take quizzes to see what hobbies would suit my personality.

When every day began to look the same, I realized that I didn’t have a hobby to offset my daily routine. So, I found a few hobbies, and I felt more productive. The more productive I was, the less crying sessions I had.

Creating a Strict Routine

The moment that I was willing to make a change, I decided to follow a strict routine. I would have alarms for my chores, work, meals, and break times. I made sure I was busy until dinnertime.

Sad to say, I couldn’t follow this routine for more than two weeks. However, I was productive, content, and pleased with what I had accomplished.

Practicing Self-Care

On the days where I was at my best last year, I would find different ways to take care of myself. So, in 2020, I decided to restart my skincare routine, take care of my nails once a week, and have a better bedtime routine. Something I learned is appreciating my body for what it is at the moment.

Now, at the end of 2020, I have included makeup and exercise into my routine. I love my self-care habits. They are my indicators for my mental health, and I can practice perseverance on the days that I feel unmotivated.

Exercising

From a young age, I have been self-conscious of my weight and how my body looked. This year, I am at my heaviest, and I want to make a change.

I decided to exercise and keep track of my weight loss. At first, I was fixated on calories and how I needed to be at a deficit. There were benefits to it, but it slowly became a numbers game, and I wasn’t willing to fall into that trap. However, as I began focusing more on exercising, I noticed how my body has changed. The number on the scale was barely dropping, but my body looked better.

I learned that health is not determined by a number. Health is putting in consistent effort to strive to be healthier and learning to be content with your current body.

Talking About My Mental Health

Something that I regret not doing during 2019 is opening up about my mental health. In 2019, I felt alone because I was silent about my mental health. I never brought it up with my own husband. But now, when I am feeling down, upset, and anything, I let him know. Just by opening up to him, I am more willing to open up to my friends.

Even though my friends do not live in the same state as me and I am in my home almost 24/7, I feel a lot less lonely than I did last year.