When COVID-19 emerged in early 2020, many of us suddenly found ourselves working from home. Many will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. It was a necessary step for keeping our families healthy while remaining employed and productive. However, mental health and substance use disorders increased significantly during this time.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Since the social distancing restrictions have eased and we are returning to some of our normal activities, it is a good time to take stock of our alcohol use, as well as other substances, and consider ways to protect against overuse.

Here are some tips to practice positive coping and avoid substance overuse:

Monitor your use of alcohol or other substances

Do a quick check-in on your substance use. Are you using more than pre-pandemic levels? Has the amount been slowly creeping up over the past two years? Have you tried to cut down but can’t? Are you taking medications as prescribed? If you are concerned about your level of substance use, talk with your doctor or other mental health professional.

Take care of your body and mind

There is a strong connection between physical and mental health. Making positive choices for both will maintain health, decrease stress, and improve your quality of life. Exercise regularly and eat healthy foods. Practice good sleep habits. Practice a variety of coping tools, such as meditation, deep breathing, or journaling.  Limit your use of alcohol and other substances.

Stay connected

Make time for enjoyable activities with family and friends. Schedule walking “dates.” Get back to the gym and sign up for a class. Find a community group and volunteer. Join a club and learn a new hobby. Many organizations still provide meetings on-line. If you feel isolated, reach out to someone you know and trust.

This is a preview of our Pinnacle Health Management Wellness Program toolkit. Employers can obtain our Wellness Program as an add-on, which includes quarterly wellness challenges, wellness toolkits and other educational resources, newsletters on popular health topics, and customized reports at the end of all wellness challenges. If you’d like more information, contact us at 866.930.7264 or at quotes@pinnaclehealthmanagement.com.