THERE are plenty of things that can cause us stress, especially more so due to this Covid-19 pandemic. The world is in a current state of uncertainty where this invisible enemy isn’t only threatening our physical health but also our mental health.
With April being Stress Awareness Month and April 16 hailed as National Stress Awareness Day, here are some basic self-care tips you can do in light of what is happening.
Avoid overconsumption of news, social media
As much as we’d like to get a play-by-play of the situation by staying glued to the news, too much of it could affect your disposition without warning. In addition, you don’t even have to look for it as this topic is extensively covered on social media. If that doesn’t stress you out, there are also the hate-induced posts that pop up every so often in between tutorial videos and memes. Take a break as much as you can. Everything we need to know about Covid-19, from the symptoms to the preventive measures, has already been put out there. So stick to that. Turn to trusted and verified sources if you want updates every now and then. Most importantly, don’t believe everything you read.
Focus on the things you can control
We can only do so much. One of the things we can stay on top of includes controlling what material comes our way and how much of it (we can’t control what people post), the amount of time you spend on social media and most importantly, how we look after ourselves. We’re not just talking about physical care in order to prevent any cause to worry. Self-care includes checking yourself. Determine how you’re doing. Find ways to cope with the situation.
Look for ways to pass the time without putting any pressure on yourself
Apart from your job, keep busy doing things you enjoy like watching TV, reading books or playing video games. If you’re up to it, now is as good a time as any to revisit a hobby or passion you had to put aside, or even discover a new one. But again, tackle this only if you’re up to it. Now is not the time to force yourself to be productive. With the current health crisis, there are a lot of things in our lives that have been greatly affected; Each of us fighting our own battles. It’s okay to not be okay.
Exercise
It’s understandable, given our situation, that there have been nights of tossing and turning or not being able to sleep immediately because there’s a lot on our minds right now. More than strengthening the body, exercising also aids in improving our mood and it helps us sleep better. It doesn’t have to be a high-impact workout (in fact, doing household chores also counts) as long as it gets the body moving and the mind relaxed afterward.
Express yourself
We have different ways of coping. Talking is one of them. Reach out to your loved ones whether it’s one of your family members you’re cooped up with or a friend you can video chat with. For all you know, they can relate to whatever you’re feeling and might even feel relieved themselves. Part of our restlessness may also be attached to the constant worry we have about how the people who matter in our lives are doing. Hit them up once in a while and catch up. More than taking your mind off things, talking helps you realize that you’re not alone in all this.