Dr. Laurie Santos on Self-Care and How to Improve Your Mental Health

Summary

Dr. Laurie Santos, a Yale professor and host of 'The Happiness Lab' podcast, addresses the mental health challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic during a Facebook live event. She offers science-backed advice on maintaining relationships, staying informed without increasing anxiety, supporting frontline workers, coping with living alone, and enhancing productivity amidst job insecurity. Santos emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, social connection, and creating positive experiences to foster mental well-being during these uncertain times.

Takeaways

• 🧼 The importance of maintaining physical health practices like hand washing and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 🧘‍♀️ The need to be intentional about protecting mental health and well-being, especially during times of crisis and uncertainty.
• 👫 Advice on managing relationships under stress, including validating feelings, being patient, and focusing on the positive aspects of the relationship.
• 📺 Strategies for staying informed without increasing anxiety, such as being mindful of news consumption and seeking positive news stories.
• 🛑 Tips for frontline workers on self-care to combat anxiety, including taking breaks, reframing their work positively, and practicing loving-kindness meditation.
• 🏡 Suggestions for those living alone to stay connected through technology and to embrace solitude for activities like meditation and exercise.
• 💼 Approaches to staying focused and productive at work, even amidst job insecurity, by prioritizing mental health and self-compassion.
• 🔍 Guidance for those who have been laid off to use the situation as an opportunity for soul-searching and planning for a more fulfilling career path.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 Ideas for parents to help their children cope with sadness due to missing school and friends, such as establishing routines and facilitating social connections online.
• 🌙 Techniques for dealing with sleep problems caused by anxiety, including establishing pre-sleep rituals and avoiding anxiety-provoking content before bed.
• 🤝 Encouragement to perform random acts of kindness and maintain social connections during isolation, as these actions can improve mental health and support others.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of Dr. Laurie Santos' Facebook live event?

The main purpose of Dr. Laurie Santos' Facebook live event is to address the struggles people are facing with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide science-backed advice on promoting mental well-being in these challenging times.

How does Dr. Santos suggest dealing with increased tension and arguing in relationships during stay-at-home orders?

Dr. Santos suggests validating the struggle, being patient, adjusting expectations, and doubling down on the positive aspects of the relationship. She recommends being intentional about promoting good things in the relationship and using creativity to maintain connection.

What is Dr. Santos' advice for staying informed without increasing anxiety?

Dr. Santos advises being deliberate about news consumption, balancing negative news with positive stories like those found under hashtags like #covetkindness, and limiting news intake, especially before bedtime, to protect sleep and mental health.

How can frontline workers and healthcare workers practice self-care and combat anxiety according to Dr. Santos?

Dr. Santos recommends taking short breaks for conscious breathing, reframing their work in a positive light as a compassionate and pro-social action, and practicing loving-kindness meditation to reduce burnout and increase resilience.

What is the importance of social connection for individuals living alone during the pandemic?

Social connection is crucial for individuals living alone as it helps combat feelings of isolation and loneliness. Dr. Santos suggests using technology for real-time interactions, such as Zoom yoga classes or dinner dates, to maintain social bonds.

How can individuals stay focused, sane, and productive at work while dealing with the threat of layoffs?

Dr. Santos suggests showing self-compassion, understanding that productivity levels will fluctuate, and focusing on improving mental health as a means to increase productivity. She emphasizes the importance of not being too hard on oneself during these uncertain times.

What is the advice given for individuals who have been laid off due to COVID-19 to figure out their next steps?

Dr. Santos encourages individuals to use this time for soul-searching, focusing on what was meaningful about their previous job, and considering how to incorporate those elements into future work. She also suggests using the extra time to engage in activities like journaling and job crafting.

How can parents help their children who are sad about missing school and their friends?

Dr. Santos recommends establishing a consistent daily routine for children, facilitating social connections through platforms like Zoom, exposing children to positive news stories, and modeling calm and positive emotions as a way to influence the children's emotional state.

What are some suggestions for creating positive experiences during social distancing and self-quarantine?

Dr. Santos suggests harnessing the opportunity to start new habits and traditions, such as game nights, family dinners, or gratitude practices. She encourages creativity and the use of fresh starts to establish positive experiences that can benefit well-being.

How can individuals deal with sleep problems caused by anxiety and uncertainty?

Dr. Santos shares personal strategies such as establishing a bedtime ritual, avoiding anxiety-provoking material before bed, and prioritizing sleep by adjusting morning commitments to allow for better rest.

What should individuals do if they have family members who have tested positive for COVID-19 and they are struggling with worry?

Dr. Santos advises self-compassion, focusing on pro-social actions that can be taken, such as helping other elderly family members or local businesses, and practicing deep breathing to manage stress and maintain immune function.

How can individuals perform random acts of kindness and maintain social connections while in isolation?

Dr. Santos suggests intentionally building informal social interactions, such as inviting friends to online activities, and using any extra time or financial resources to support others, like local businesses or elderly individuals in need.