Juggling so many different aspects of life from inside your home can feel overwhelming. Between balancing your workload, your family’s schedule, and your daily to-dos, it can be challenging to prioritize your mental health. As an entrepreneur, you must maintain a healthy balance and take time for yourself. Here are a few pointers that can help you cope and thrive during an uncertain time.

Maintain a Routine

Keeping your life as normal as possible will help you preserve a sense of safety. While it may be tempting to sleep in, stay up late, and forego your usual at-home activities, it’s essential to keep your schedule predictable and reliable. Wake up as early as you would on a traditional workday, get out of your pajamas, shower, prepare lunch, and take breaks like you regularly would, and then go to bed at a decent hour. This routine will help you feel as productive as possible, but will also help you adjust when it’s time to go back out into the world.

Keep a Clean Space

When you’re isolated, even the little things can make a big difference. Doing small tasks around the house when you have a few spare minutes can feel like a big win. Make your bed each morning, choose one single chore or room to focus on per day, do a single load of laundry, and then forget the rest. It’s not about feeling the pressure to do it all; rather, it’s about giving yourself small accomplishments along the way to help you feel less dull and more positive.

Avoid Constant Updates

In uncertain times, the temptation to keep up with every news update can be hard to overcome. While it’s important to have current information, fixating on real-time updates can become a drain on time and mood. Schedule a five-minute window for checking the news, and then don’t worry about it again. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, sticking to credible news sources can also help you to count on reliable updates. While social media can be a respite from the madness and connect you with friends and family, too much can increase the pressure you might feel to do more or be more. Put your phone down during your daytime hours and schedule 30 minutes to check your social media when you’ve finished your task lists. 

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

One great way to prioritize your mental health is to start with your physical health. Make sure to get 30 minutes of active time each day. Schedule a walk in the afternoon, do some yoga or a low-impact workout. There are plenty of free workouts you can do from home, and they’re only a Google search away. Cook nutritious meals and use your ASEA products daily. When you care for your body, even minimally throughout the day, your mind will feel much better. 

Journal, Read, and Meditate

Keeping a gratitude journal can be an easy way to count your wins, set your goals, and list your affirmations. Journaling in the morning, while you have breakfast, is a great time to set the tone for the day. Finding time in the afternoon to meditate or read something uplifting can also help you focus on the positives. And, if we’re talking about interesting journal entries, surely the pandemic of 2020 will be a series worth returning to for insight in your later, more carefree years. 

Reach Out and Don’t Be Too Hard On Yourself

Keep in touch with family and friends as much as you can. Schedule video calls 1–2 times a week to laugh, update one another, and watch movies or play games together. Avoid drinking alcohol or overeating junk food every night, but don’t feel bad if you reach for an extra cookie or two. It’s a difficult time, and treating yourself can be an emotional kindness.

The key to mental health is to do the best that you can and let go of what you didn’t get around to. Globally, it’s a difficult time for everyone, and while productivity can be significant, it’s never as important as self-care and your mental health. Remember, the better you take care of yourself, the better you’ll be able to support others.