You can be forgiven if you haven’t exactly been on top of your game lately. With all the problems in the world right now, there’s one that may loom larger than all; the mental health crisis.
Health psychologist Elke Van Hoof wrote of the lockdown back in April, calling it “arguably the largest psychological experiment ever conducted.” And we all know there has been additional fuel thrown on that psychological fire since then.
With so many things going on, and so many changes to our already unorthodox routines, it can be hard to pinpoint reasons for feeling down.
Fortunately our brains will look for the easiest path away from any discomfort. This is beneficial in many situations. Suppose you were cold; you’d simply grab a blanket or turn up the heat.
But for situations where we don’t know what’s wrong, the remedies that first spring to mind are often of fleeting effectiveness. The type of activity that offers immediate gratification, but at the expense of overall well-being.
These are easy to start doing, and often hard to stop. Many of them involve screens, caloric intake, or both. They tend not to have long-term rewards.
Instead of resorting to the first thing that springs to mind, look for activities that improve your well-being. You’ll know you’ve found the right activity if it improves your mood without causing any feelings of guilt or regret.
It doesn’t have to be anything heroic. New research shows that even light housework is better for our mood than binge-watching TV. And if you can’t muster up the energy for anything beyond lazing on the couch, that same research suggests you’re better off getting some sleep.
Try keeping a list of activities that reliably make you feel better. Everyone’s list will look different, but it could include: going for a run, meditating, journaling, calling a friend, cleaning a room, playing guitar, etc. Then, when you’re feeling a little off, grab your list, pick the most appealing activity, and do ten to twenty minutes of it.
This isn’t a miracle cure and you may not feel amazing afterward. Still, you’re likely to be in a better place than you were before you started. The same can’t be said for three hours of Netflix and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.
How to Feel Better When You Don’t Know What’s Wrong | Raptitude
Get-Up-and-Go
On-call workers need to be alert and ready to perform when called upon in the middle of the night. But they may also have the opportunity to return to sleep after completing their duties; so caffeine probably isn’t the best choice. A new study indicates that a short burst of exercise upon waking may be a suitable countermeasure.
The Effect of a Short Burst of Exercise During the Night on Subsequent Sleep | PubMed
Recession-Proof
Although the stock market’s V-shaped recovery may have you believe otherwise, the economy is officially in a recession. Now is a good time to evaluate your finances and make changes to lessen the impact.
7 Ways to Recession-Proof Your Life | Investopedia
Smart Drug Smarts
Quality sleep is far from a guarantee for shift workers. Luckily there are substances we can take to compensate for those times when our cognition is lacking. But blindly ingesting a random “smart drug” without first doing your homework can lead to unwanted side effects.
10 Common Nootropic Use Mistakes to Avoid | Psychology Today
Critical Workers Face Critical Situation
The commute to and from work has always been a little riskier for us oft sleep-deprived shift workers. Now, pandemic restrictions and curfews imposed to quell violent protests have added another challenge to the night-shift commute.
For night-shift workers, curfews can be costly | LA Times
Exercise Effects
The effects of exercise on the body are numerous and profound. How numerous? A single, nine-minute bout of exercise alters almost ten thousand different molecules in the blood.
A Single Session of Exercise Alters 9,815 Molecules in Our Blood | New York Times
Under the Influence of Shift Work
A new standard in Canada aims to help organizations with guidance on how to proactively manage impairment in the workplace. This standard is the first of its kind anywhere in the world. How is it unique? It goes beyond drugs and alcohol to include other forms of impairment, such as “experiencing the disruption to body circadian rhythm caused by shift work”.
New CSA standard will help in managing impairment at work | OHS Canada
Stay healthy-
Jason Glenn