Got major anxiety right now? You’re not alone. Times have never been more stressful. With the world on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are worried and stress levels are at an all-time high. We’re trapped at home. Scared we might catch the virus and anxiously asking ourselves how a possible economic meltdown might affect our lives. As a result, many of us are taking drastic measures to calm down.
However, rather than buckling under the pressure, perhaps you could be using this time indoors as an opportunity to master your stresses and develop a series of coping mechanisms and techniques that will help you to keep calm under any future stresses.
Here, we’ll underline a few top tips for keeping calm in times of stress and worry that go beyond typical ‘positive mindset’ platitudes. Because know it’s not always easy to maintain a positive mindset when it feels like the world is ending!
Treat yourself – You’ll undoubtedly have seen a number of news items declaring that we should be using this time to work on ourselves and that often includes fitness and wellness. But it can be just as important to allow yourself to enjoy the things that make you happy. So, don’t deprive yourself of the little things in life that give you joy. That glass of wine on a Friday night gives you something to look forward to and to focus on, after all.
Also, considering the timing of this particular pandemic, there are probably quite a few uneaten Easter eggs left in the cupboard just waiting to be enjoyed. Because chocolate really is the ultimate stress reliever.
Practice meditation – Meditation doesn’t have to mean sitting with your legs folded and chanting, it just means existing in the moment and blocking out all external stresses. It’s something you can do lying in bed or relaxing on the sofa. Better yet, consider supplementing your meditation routine with some light yoga.
Focus on what you can change – There are some things you’ll be able to change to make your situation better (eating more healthy, exercising, watching less scaremongering content) and there are some things that will be completely beyond your control. Always focus on the former, as if you focus too much on the latter then it’s simply wasted energy.
Reach out – The modern world is far more equipped for a pandemic than it was even a decade ago. The availability of video conferencing software and social media means that whilst we’re all physically separated, it’s never been easier to reach out a helping hand and connect with someone. Perhaps use the opportunity to reach out to a friend or family member you haven’t spoken to in months or years? Because right now, even if they are living on the other side of the world, it makes very little difference.
Examine the big picture – This will pass and the world will get back to normal. We know it can feel as though this will never end, but it will. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel and that’s the big picture that you really need to focus on if you want to stand any hope of mastering your stress once and for all.
