The Importance of Keeping Your Mind Active

This post was written during COVID_19 and although the subject matter is still current, some things mentioned may no longer be applicable.

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Where I live, we are starting the fifth week of “sheltering-at-home.” In many places in the world, it’s been much, much longer. We have never been sequestered before because of a virus. We have had rough flu seasons before, but nothing unknown like this. It is confining and isolating.

In Texas, many are relieved that some of the restrictions will be lifted, and we can get out and become more mobile again. Texas state parks have reopened so families can have outings. Confinement is difficult since people are created for community and connection. We are also happiest when productive and mobile.

It is necessary to stay physically active, but also important is staying mindfully active! Even though I get to stay home and already have a daily and weekly schedule, I knew it would be even more important to stick with it while being sequestered during the coronavirus. With no group activities or friend gatherings, I realized that I had to keep my mind engaged.

If you are feeling confined and depressed, ask yourself these questions:

Am I sticking to a schedule?
Am I exercising in some way every day?
Am I getting Vitamin D?
Am I drinking enough water?
Am I eating a balanced diet and staying away from junk food?
Am I doing something creative each day?
Am I doing something educational each day?
Am I taking self-care? Am I staying away from my vices?

We have this extra time, whether we wanted it or not. We have time to slow down and do some self-care. Connect with a long-distance friend. Learn a new skill. Work on that entrepreneurial idea. Keeping our mind active and having a mission can help us to stay positive and away from self-pity. As a person with clinical depression, I know that keeping my mind productive is good medicine that suppresses thoughts from traveling to places where it should not.

If you feel as though you haven’t kept your mind active enough lately, do a restart today! Make a list of at least ten things that you have wanted to learn or do that you can begin this week. Here is a sample list:

• Write a letter to an elderly relative or a long-distance friend.
• Learn a new social media app or a new feature on your smartphone.
• Learn a new computer skill: Adobe Photoshop, Excel, etc.
• Take an online class to learn something new. Try iTunes U or The Great Courses Plus, which offers a free trial.
• Read a book in a different genre than you usually read.
• Find a YouTube video that shows you how to repair something in your home that you haven’t gotten around to fixing.
• Start a neighborhood campaign to collect food for your local food bank.
• Create a Spotify playlist of your favorite songs from a particular decade.
• Go through some old photos, scanning them with a photo scan app on your phone.  Share some with those friends or family members in the pictures.
• Join an online Bible study or attend a new exercise group.

Notice that I listed individual activities, not family ones. Even if you work from home, you need to take time out for yourself. Don’t give up on your “me time” — let your family know that it is important you have some alone time each week. You may be surprised at what can result from new projects or interests!