For Mental Health Awareness Month, Mark Ronson made a video about how he’s remaining positive as people around the country are following shelter-in-place guidelines to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus, and he’s sharing the video first with Billboard.
“One of the things I made is a schedule on a blackboard. So I find, you know, some of the days now we don’t have some of the same things to do that we used to, so keeping some kind of routine I find is pretty helpful for me,” Ronson — who partnered with the Child Mind Institute to create the video for its #WeThriveInside campaign — explained while showing a full weekly schedule divided by days and specific time increments. “I wake up, breakfast meditation, coffee, yoga. These are just the things I do.”
The 44-year-old hitmaker delved into how specifically yoga and meditation help reduce his anxiety levels, while walks — which Ronson nicknames “walkies” — help bring him fresh air, clear his mind and even give his time to call his mom. He also shared that he talks to his therapist Dr. Ellie on a weekly basis.
But Ronson’s meticulous schedule also allots him time to find new ways to entertain himself.
“We all have a little bit more time on our hands, so I’ve learned things that I’ve wanted to do for a long time but always put off, like maybe a new music software. Or I learned how to give a haircut to my girlfriend and it really wasn’t terrible, so that’s kinda cool,” the “Uptown Funk” artist said.
The campaign #WeThriveInside was created for children and their families struggling during this unprecedented period of social distancing during Mental Health Awareness Month. Launched on May 1, the campaign shares at-home videos from prominent figures about how they’re regularly maintaining their mental health, and also directing families to Child Mind Institute’s thoroughly researched COVID-19 resources.
Julia Michaels, Nicole Scherzinger, Moby and more celebrities are among those sharing their personal experiences while remaining in self-isolation and offering uplifting messages as part of the month-long campaign.
“In these uncertain and uniquely stressful times, it is critical for families — and especially children — to know that they are not alone,” said Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, president of the Child Mind Institute, in a press statement. “Most of us are struggling, but we can help each other discover new ways not just to persevere, but to thrive and grow from this experience.”
Watch Ronson’s entire video above, and donate to Child Mind Institute’s COVID-19 Response Fund here.
