16 'Ridiculous' Things People Are Doing for Their Mental Health in Self-Isolation

It’s no secret that the coronavirus (COVID-19) — the new-to-humans virus that causes respiratory infection and can lead to serious or fatal health complications — has turned our world upside down. For many of us, this means challenges when it comes to mental health.

Whether you can’t see your therapist, or are coping with loneliness because of social distancing, we want you to know you’re not alone. People in our community who live with mental illness are finding creative (and sometimes downright ridiculous!) ways to cope with the stresses of COVID-19, so we asked them to share their experiences with us. We hope their tips inspire you to take care of your own mental health in new ways!

Here are 16 “ridiculous” ways people are taking care of their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic:

1. “My fiancé and I took a step back to childhood and created ‘the flufflympics.’ The Olympics for stuffed animals. We turned our house into an obstacle course and are racing stuffed animals to finish the course fastest. It relieves stress.” — Emily B.

2. “Letting my introvert self take over my crafting.” — Jessica N.

3. “Morning debates with my cat. I always lose.” — Chelsea S.

4. “Hand painting my face” — Chloe G.

5. “I talk to Alexa (echo dot thing). Like morning routine (“Good morning!” “How is the weather?” — stuff like that).” — Lena G.

6. “Ordering from a local coffee place that will deliver to my porch! So, if I’m working from home, it will be with my favorite coffee to keep me focused and calm.” — Heidi R.

7. “Completely cleaned the inside and outside (wax included) of my little car. Less of a stress to drive around in now that’s she’s clean.” — Chelsea T.

8. “Hanging and talking to my pet pigeon. Yes, I talk to it.” — Tara W.

9. “I’m painting my attic room.” — Isabella W.

10. “Painting weird pictures. It’s been awhile since I painted and this is not usually my style, lol.” — Zoe S.

11. “Colored my hair silver.” — Bobbi L.

12. “Teaching my daughters how to self-care ‘mommy’s way.’” — Hillary D.

13. “Cycling on the Coronado Silver Strand for 11 miles for the first time in my life. The pain in my legs after was excruciating but mentally, I felt wonderful.” — Rianna J.

14. “The kids and I love camping, so we’ve started cooking dinner over the backyard fire pit… S’mores included!” — Mollie A.

15. “Taking pictures of my ‘crazy’ ass dog.” — Tracy M.

16. “If I’m upset and since I can’t have a hug, I roll myself up in a blanket and sleep. It makes me feel like I’m been hugged.” — Amber S.

What ridiculous or silly way are you taking care of yourself during the coronavirus pandemic? Let us know in the comments below. 

Concerned about coronavirus? Stay safe using the tips from these articles:

• 8 Soaps You Can Use to Help Prevent the Spread of Illness
• 10 Face Masks People With Chronic Illness Recommend
• Which Face Masks Prevent Against Coronavirus?
• How Is the New Coronavirus Treated?
• How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer
• What You Should Know About Social Distancing During COVID-1