Self-Care Strategies During the Pandemic

Drawing on more than 30 years of executive leadership experience, Mark Hirschhorn serves as the president, COO, and CFO of Talkspace. In this capacity, Mark Hirschhorn directs a behavioral health company that seamlessly brings clients and therapists together for text and video chat sessions.

With education and mental wellness at the forefront of Talkspace’s mission, the organization emphasizes the importance of self-care as a central facet of everyday life within an extended pandemic scenario. When restrictions on daily activities set in for the long haul, one of the most important antidotes is getting outdoors in a safe, socially distanced manner whenever possible. This may involve a 15-minute walk when the sun is out, or longer cycling or jogging sessions that boost endorphins and burn calories through a healthy workout.

Many people who saw Zoom as an integral part of their social life at the start of lockdown and travel restrictions started to feel a sense of “Zoom fatigue” set in over the months. In many cases, the fault was not with the platform itself, but a “quantity over quality” situation. One strategy to counteract this entails carefully monitoring time spent connecting with others and making sure that it has a positive and psychologically boosting effect, rather than draining reserves.

Other self-care strategies include mindfulness, meditation, and activities in the residential environment such as yoga. Keeping a positive mindset and looking forward to positive milestones, such as a successful vaccine rollout, is a proven strategy. In cases where a sense of anxiety and depression persists, professional help can be a good option. The therapists at Talkspace have the knowledge to help people work through the sense of dispiritedness that comes naturally during a time of extended pandemic.