The Covid-19 outbreak is the most severe pandemic since the H1N1 influenza (Spanish flu) pandemic that occurred in 1918. It is has not only affected the health of many but also affected our will to take action at workplace and at home. Yet, Covid-19 pandemic has affected women more profoundly than men in several areas, both at workplace (especially in the health and social sector), and at home with an increased workload due to lockdown and quarantine measures. Our women have always been our front liners of our homes in times of crisis. From crisis of not finding that one sock that you were looking for to making sure of the wellbeing and health of all the members of the house.
So, why must we especially focus on women’s mental health during this global pandemic? Because women all over the world are facing a sharp increase in caregiving responsibilities to various social, cultural and economic factors , with even less freedom, space, or economic security.
The concept of housewives is quite twisted in our society. Any woman who nurtures a family is a home-maker and not a housewife. Whether or not the woman is working professionally somewhere or handling her household entirely, the psychological impact of these things is equal on both. Majority housewives suffer from abuse on daily basis and become a victim of their husband’s anger and frustrations. All these episodes, even if they occur just once, leave a dark and negative imprint on the mind of a woman.
Now is the time we show our love and respect to our home makers by gifting them the best gift they can ever get that is PEACE, AKNOWLEDGEMENT and A BREAK.. Wrap it up with loads of LOVE and see the smile that you can get on your women. Whether she is your mother, wife, sister, girlfriend, co-worker or your neighbor this is that one gift that will make any women’s life is much at ease during this pandemic which has affected all.
Watch out for these few things to make sure the pressure is off and a better mental well-being is invited.
- Switching Roles
Remember you are not only a home maker but an individual with dreams and hopes. Focus on things that matter to you and what you want to achieve beside worrying or working for the members of your house. Make a list of things that interest you the most and mark TO ACHIEVE LIST every month. This will help you switch focus from family to self from time to time. It can vary from achieving goals at work to your journey of weight loss/gain.
- Gift yourself a kit of self-care
As much as you worry about every member of your house there is one member you leave out always that is you. Make a time table that includes taking up good practice of daily exercise of at least 30 minute and healthy eating. Also adding additional 10 minutes of your times to meditate will provide more oxygen to your brain helping you to stay focused and priorities things accordingly. If cooking healthy meals separately is adding up to the task at least make sure you are sipping on GREEN TEA after every meal. Green tea of course helps with digestion but it also helps with mood swings, memory and attention and also protects the brain from aging.
- Communicate
Communication is the key to all your concerns at home or at work. Make sure you communicate how you feel to others. When you put your time more in communicating rather than complaining of how others don’t understand you. You will invite a healthy relationship with your family members and co-workers. Use the key word “I” .
e.g I would like you to know that I feel you can find a better solution to the concern problem. This will give you and others a sense of healthy authority. Another key word you could use is “NO”. A lot of us, men or women are unable to say NO to something you don’t want to do. It is healthy to say NO when needed to establish a sense of your boundaries.
- Sleep
After a long day ensuring things are perfect at home, work and for yourself all you need now is a Good 8 hours Sleep. Sleep affects your mental and physical health. Getting good sleep helps boost your mind and mood and can help prevent health problems. Women are more likely than men to have insomnia and other sleep problems. Changing hormones during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can affect how well a woman sleeps.
Try these tips to help improve your sleep:
- Try to go to sleep when you feel sleepy and then get up at the same time each morning.
- Do not take naps after 3 p.m. if you normally sleep at night.
- Do not drink caffeinated or alcoholic drinks or smoke late in the day or at night.
- Do not eat or drink a lot within about 3 hours of bedtime.
- Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool. If light is a problem, try a sleeping mask. If noise is a problem, try earplugs, a fan, or a “white noise” machine to cover up the sounds.
- Follow a routine to help relax and wind down before sleep, such as reading a book, listening to music, or taking a bath.
- If you cannot sleep within 20 minutes of going to bed or don’t feel drowsy, get out of bed. Read or do a quiet activity until you feel sleepy. Then try going back to bed.
- Do not do anything in your bed that could make you more awake. Using a mobile phone, watching TV, or eating in bed can make it harder for you to fall asleep in bed.
- Do not look at lighted screens like a laptop or smartphone before bed.
- See your doctor or a sleep specialist if you think that you have a sleep problem.
Good mental health means you’re able to cope with daily stresses and accomplish personal goals. Many things, such as trauma, stress, and sleep problems, can affect your mental health. You may not be able to prevent a mental health condition, but you can take steps to protect and support your mental health throughout your life.