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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced changes to daily life, and disrupted regular routines at work, at school, and home. Physical isolation can negatively affect mental health, and constant news coverage can bring fear and anxiety about what is to come. Fear and anxiety about a health crisis can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. How can you best cope in these uncertain times?
During this pandemic, it is critical to recognize the signs of anxiety, take steps to build your resilience, find ways to manage stress, and know where to go if you need help. Some examples of stress and anxiety may be: Feeling irritable, angry, or in denial Feeling uncertain, nervous, or anxious Lacking motivation Feeling tired, overwhelmed, or burned out Feeling sad or depressed Having trouble sleeping Having trouble concentrating Here's some helpful ways to cope with stress.
Create a Self-Care Daily Ritual.
Exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep. Self-care can include exercise, walking outside, reading, taking a bath, painting, journaling, gardening, cooking a well-balanced meal, or enjoying a favorite hobby. Pick one thing and do it at the same time every day.
Create a Daily Morning Routine.
A morning routine can boost your mood and motivate you to be more productive and positive. Consider waking up at the same time each day, exercising, showering, meditating, cleaning your home, or having a healthy breakfast as part of your morning ritual.
Connect with others.
Do not completely isolate yourself from other people. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. Maintaining relationships and social support are good ways to combat anxiety.
Start a project.
Many people have begun Spring cleaning, home improvement projects, or other projects to keep their minds off the stress caused by COVID 19. Starting a project is not only enjoyable, but it also creates purpose and gives you something to look forward to.
Take a break from the news and social media.
Take regular breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Consistently hearing about the pandemic can be upsetting and incredibly stressful. Practicing social distancing with social media is necessary. We may not realize the effect our newsfeed or timeline has on us, but we can take steps to reduce the impact of panic on social media.
Practice Mindfulness or Meditation.
Meditation has many health benefits and is a tremendous stress reliever. Mindfulness or meditation is essential in times of crisis as it can help restore your sense of control as you focus on your breath or a positive word or phrase.
Sharing the facts about COVID-19 and understanding the risk to yourself and people you care about can make an outbreak less stressful. When you share accurate information about COVID-19, you can help make people feel less stressed and make a connection with them. Encouraging others may also make you feel better. Supporting and checking in on your loved ones is exceptionally helpful. Virtual communication can help you and your loved ones feel less lonely and isolated.
During this crisis, it is critical that you take care of your mental health; this means calling your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row. The most helpful tip during times of crisis is to remain hopeful and optimistic. It is important to remember that although this event is devastating, it will not last forever. Focusing on what we can control and doing things that are good for our health and the health of those around us will give us a fresh perspective. It is also essential to look toward the future and to try to begin building for that future—one day at a time. Anything is possible with hope. Where there is hope, there is faith, where there is faith, there are miracles. For more information on Covid19 including symptoms, risks and ways to protect yourself, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Written by: Takiya Green, Creator of Divine Writing Solutions