The increased social distancing and uncertain future has turned our life upside down. We are mostly confined to the four walls of our house. It can be hard to cope with this state of stress and fear about Covid-19. Managing your mental health during this time is more crucial. Here are some tips to stay calm during these unprecedented times.
1. Focus on what you can control
It is over one year, and we still have limited knowledge about Covid-19. It is easy to get engaged in the wrong thoughts we have no power over in such a situation. Worrying about all the things that could happen and predicting the future can make us feel helpless and scared.
At such a time, it is crucial to bring your attention back to the things that we can control because thoughts create emotions.
When you focus on things that are not within your control, you’re also wasting your energy. Stop draining your energy on such things to start thinking clearly.
2. Keep healthy routines
Create a sense of order by maintaining healthy routines. You can benefit significantly from routines that are flexible. With the usual routines out of place, create new bedtime and other practices.
During a pandemic, it is easy to lose track of time when you are confined to the walls of your home. Establish new daily schedules for lunch, exercise, music, television, and online social time with friends.
3. Create moments of joy
"Joy is a profound sense of well-being in any circumstance."
What brings you Joy? Do you want to know the secret of people who seem to be naturally joyful? The desire to learn what it takes to be joyful is a great start. Specific exercises and activities help remain in a state of joy. Your favorite memories of joyful times also help recapture those feelings. You can try breathwork to connect with your authentic feelings. For some people listening to music can improve mood and make them feel joyful.
4. Try meditation
The word meditation often causes confusion in many people, meditation is simply awareness. The foundation for meditation is not confusing or complex.
There are different types of meditation. You can start with mindfulness meditation which is about participating in every moment with awareness and understanding. It is the simplest form of meditation to live right in this moment.
Studies demonstrate that meditating for a short time makes us feel relaxed and decreases the sense of anxiety and depression.
If you are new to this practice, then Meditation apps can really help to get started. There are plenty of free and paid meditation apps available on iOS and Android.
5. Engage in fun activities to divert your mind
To divert your mind, plan your daily activities in advance. You can make a list of hobbies or activities to keep yourself occupied and stay away from negative thoughts. It is also a great idea to engage in online courses and webinars.
A hobby is doing something that you have a deep interest or passion for and want to do all day long. It returns a sense of self-fulfillment and many positive rewards.
These activities also help us rediscover ourselves because we have to put in knowledge and skills. Start with a list of activities and interests that intrigue you.
6. Limit your time on social media to avoid panic
When practicing social distancing, it is easy to spend hours on social media. Heavy social media use also kills your attention span, impacts your sleep, and increases depression.
The spread of false information and fear is common in such situations. Some social media channels facilitate important conversations, but they also allow sensationalism and misinformation to spread fast. Too much information can make us more anxious. So it is better to limit your exposure to social media and also trust only authentic sources for any information.
7. Reach out and be empathetic
It is essential that while maintaining social distance, we become more emotionally available to people. Reaching out to your friends and loved ones is easier than ever with video and group calling apps such as Zoom, Skype, Whatsapp, etc.
You can also watch movies and enjoy music together. With the apps, you can also reach out to elderly neighbors or live alone to help them with groceries and daily essentials.
That's all about the tips to stay calm during Covid. It is crucial to understand that you cannot control certain things, but you can take care of yourself by exercising, eating the right food, and staying with your family. While staying positive is great, but you should not avoid necessary precautions. Make this time your opportunity to do things that you have been missing for years due to the busy schedules. If you plan correctly, you will not complain about the lack of time to take care of yourself.
