Put your mind at ease with these simple steps coffee or the bliss of a warm bubble bath..
ith people practising social distancing to combat Covid-19, staying at home could be challenging for some of us. The long period of lockdown could spur anxiety. It is, therefore, vital to stay positive to cope with a calamity like this. As they say, every cloud has a silver lining; it’s time to cherish the simple pleasures of life like the aroma of freshlybrewed
EMBRACE AROMATHERAPY
“Aromatherapy oils are very helpful in beating stress and that run down depressing feeling. You can use them as instant mood lifters as they do not have any side effects. Oils such as lavender, neroli, sandalwood, jasmine, chamomile, bergamot and rose are soothing and calming for the mind. They are highly beneficial in keeping depression at bay, and fighting stress and anxiety. You can use them in diffusers, as room sprays or as massage oils after mixing into a carrier oil. You can even add a few drops in the bath tub,” says beauty expert Mallika Gambhir.
Ritika Samaddar, regional head, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Max
Healthcare says, “Opt for walnuts, almonds, water chestnuts and pumpkin seeds. Banana is a great source of amino acid and makes you feel instantly upbeat. Coffee is another source of enhancing your mood, besides dark chocolate. Sprouts, chana, figs and dates are other great options.”
OPT FOR MOODENHANCING ELIXIRS
Shikha Mahajan, holistic nutritionist, Diet Podium opines that just because we have to uplift the mood, we don’t have to consume junk. “Make crumbles with dates and nuts and mash them in a blender and make balls out of this, which boosts the mood. Make fresh yoghurt at home with fresh melons and peaches and avoid the ones in the market. A piece of chocolate can be consumed daily as it is ideal to tackle depression. I’d recommend having cakes and brownies once a week,” says Mahajan.
SET BOUNDARIES AND INDULGE IN INDIVIDUALISTIC ACTIVITIES
Clinical psychologist Priyanka Verma observes a lot of her clients are complaining about depression. “Maintain a similar routine even during the lockdown as one’s familiar with it. Also, during the period, you are not only connecting with your family but with your friends virtually from different parts of the world. Also, boundary setting is crucial and one needs to tell one’s family that this is my work time and I should not be bothered during these hours. More often than not, Indian families don’t understand the concept of privacy and space. Plan in advance for your week. As no house help is coming over, schedule your cooking, cleaning hours - this could be the time you used to commute to work. Also, you need to figure out new activities to wind down and it has to be more individualistic. It can’t just be Netflix and chill with your partner,” says Verma.