When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the focus was on physical health. Naturally, many people feared getting or transmitting the virus, and we have been adapting to new safety precautions to stay safe. However, COVID-19 brought other health consequences along with it: a spike in mental illnesses. 

As the pandemic worsened, many people found their depression worsening as well. Now, nearly a year after lockdowns first began, COVID-19-related depression is at an all-time high. According to a study done by GoodRx, 63% of people living with depression reported it being “worse” or “much worse” due to the pandemic. 

If you feel you’ve developed depression or it has gotten worse, you aren’t alone. Fortunately, there are ways you can manage your depression and get through the pandemic more easily. 

1. Try to Stay Busy

When you don’t have activities to fill your day with, they can quickly become difficult to get through. Fortunately, by attempting to stay busy, you can avoid falling into depressive slumps. If you have work or schoolwork, that’s a helpful place to start. Focus on putting your all into your work and center your daily routine around it. 

Of course, the pandemic has displaced some people from work, and it’s important to have other things to do. If you aren’t working as much these days, you don’t have to let it affect your routine. There are plenty of ways to keep busy with everyday activities: cleaning, cooking, reading, exercising, drawing, and meditating are beneficial options. You might try a new hobby so you’ll have something to keep you busy in the long run, too.

Along with staying busy, maintaining a routine also helps combat mental illness. When you have depression, even simple tasks like showering or engaging in hobbies can feel hard to do. By finding a routine, you may also increase your motivation and keep yourself productive.

2. Establish a Better Sleep Schedule

Sleep is essential to our health. When you’re depressed, it’s easy to both oversleep and not sleep enough. Instead of waking up feeling rested, you feel exhausted, and it affects your entire day. By making more conscious decisions about your sleeping habits, you can improve how you feel when you’re awake. 

Start by considering your current sleep schedule. Do you wish you got more sleep? Or do you often sleep in too late? Whatever your specific needs are, base your goal sleep schedule around them. Just make sure that you’re setting a realistic but generous allotment of time to get some rest.

Once you establish your desired sleep schedule, attempt to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. For some people, this happens naturally. If you have depression, however, you may struggle at first. 

After a while, your body will adjust to a new schedule, and you’ll find it easier to fall asleep and wake up in the morning. Also, try to stay off your phone as you’re going to sleep — better yet, keep it in a different room at night if possible.

3. Connect with Those Around You

One of the most harrowing consequences of the pandemic is the inability to socialize in person. Isolation and loneliness are at an all-time high, and these factors only worsen depression. While in-person gatherings aren’t safe right now, it doesn’t mean we have to remain completely isolated. Thanks to technology, there are plenty of ways we can connect with friends, loved ones, and even strangers. 

When you’re depressed, it’s not necessarily a priority to reach out and socialize. Loneliness builds up over time, and it can feed directly into your depression. Even when you don’t feel like it, make efforts to stay connected with those around you. Isolation won’t last forever, and socializing — even if it’s a virtual gathering — will help you remember this. 

The pandemic has left many people with newfound or worsening depression. Though the mental illness can feel isolating, there are ways to cope and stay connected with those around you. Start taking steps towards managing your depression — even the smallest changes can make a big difference for your mood and health! Learning more about the prevalence and treatment of depression can help to destigmatize what you may be experiencing. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.