This whole lockdown thing is starting to get hard! What was meant to be a short-term fix keeps getting pushed out further and further, and at this point it’s hard to know when it’s going to end.

In times like these, your mental health needs to be top priority. It is easy to let anxious and depressive thoughts creep in and start to run your life.

So, to help keep yourself sane...here is what you need to do:

Rain or shine, try to spend at least some time outside each day. The sun plays a critical role in helping you produce “happy” hormones and will help lift your spirits and not leave you feeling stuck.

If it is raining, just going out and listening to the rain can be therapeutic. Our brains crave nature and even if you are in a big city...rain brings the sounds of nature to you!

This might be the most important thing you can do while in a lockdown. Your life has changed so much that it is easy to just stumble through the day without much rhyme or reason. 

To build a good routine, here are the key things that you should include:

• Wake up at the same time. Even if you don’t “need” to get up for anything, creating a morning routine will help to give you structure.  
• Get dressed. As much as I love to lounge around in my PJs all day, it is not good for the mind to be in “relax” mode 24-7. Get up, take a shower, get dressed as if you are going out, and for the women, maybe even put on makeup! Men, consider a shave! It will make you feel so much better.
• Work out. Exercise is a magic pill when it comes to mental health. It changes your brain chemistry to help keep you in good spirits, and the structure of a workout routine has been shown to support other good habits, like eating better, drinking less, and taking more positive actions.  

If you are not working right now, you are probably finding the lockdown particularly difficult. Why? Because there is no novelty to your life. Our brains need to be stimulated and the best way to do that is to develop a skill. 

This could be working on something you already had as a hobby, or it could be developing a new skill. Start learning a language, an instrument, or a craft (like drawing or painting!). This will keep you engaged and build your brain power.

We are now a full month into our Online Training Program, and while our members have been loving their workouts, the benefits they are seeing go way beyond the physical.

I have been getting a ton of feedback about just how important having a coach is to them right now, more than ever. Here's why:

• Consistency. When you have someone to keep you accountable to your workouts, you get them in. It’s so easy, especially now, to skip self-care...even though it is more important than ever.
• Creativity. When you work out on your own, you tend to do the same things. Having a coach ensures that you will be challenged to change things up and keep your body and your mind working!
• Camaraderie. Having people to connect with (both the coach and workout buddies) has been huge. It’s also nice that these “virtual hangouts” are actually focused on health instead of boozing!

So, if you are starting to feel the strain that happens after being stuck inside for over a month, start defending your mental health and implement these steps.

If you’re not sure where to start...we can help!

Just check out our Online Training Program to get the guidance and accountability you need to keep your body and mind fit.

Mint Condition Fitness is the leading personal training studio in Los Gatos for purpose-driven men and women to lose weight, get out of pain, and do more of the things that make life meaningful.