Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.
The constant negative news about the coronavirus has made everyone anxious and stressed. Because it has made drastic changes in your daily routines, we understand that this reaction is quite frequent. It can be challenging to overcome this feeling during these difficult times.
Do you know that your brain can change reactions concerning experiences? This is known as neural plasticity. This means that if you have negative thoughts, you are more likely to develop neural connections and think negatively for the next time. But, there’s nothing to worry about. You can manage your stress and turn it into the habits that will support your overall well-being. What are these habits and what activities you need to add to your lifestyle? Want to know about them? Read the information below.
Self Care: When you feel anxious or stressed about something, the very first thing that you can do is take deep breaths. Start doing some simple exercises that activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for fighting the anxiety and stress responses. Doing exercise will lower down the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, finally improving your mental health. Prioritize sleep, avoid mindless snacking and leave the stress-inducing foods. These minor changes in your daily routine will promote your mental health and your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. To prevent those negative thoughts and clear your mind you could try taking a look Area52.com.
Do what makes you happy: Before you get to bed or wake up, try to do activities that make you satisfied or uplift you. Do something that sets your mood. For example, yoga, singing, dancing, or even baking. Doing some stretches is also a great solution. Listening to podcasts, meditation, or an online church like this will help calm your mind before bed. When you choose to do things that will make you happy, you strongly build your confidence and soak into every dip of happiness.
Spend Time In Nature: Spending time in nature is a great healer. Even the studies have shown that it can reduce stress levels and boost mental health. In addition to it, time spent in nature also contributes to lower blood pressure, muscle tension, heart rate, and stress hormones. Also, add green elements to your place or work desk to improve your mental health in the long term.
Reaching Out: Obeying social distancing, fewer interactions, and work from home can make you feel lonely and isolating. This is why it is essential to reach out to people to connect with them for better mental health. Socializing decreases stress and supports calm feelings. Sharing your thoughts with somebody provides you support, ultimately reducing the cortisol levels. So, if you want to keep your stress levels under control, talking to a family member or a friend is an excellent remedy. For this, you can plan one call or connection in a day.
Having a negative outlook during these times is normal. Remember that you will not be optimistic overnight. You need to include some practices in your life that will promote less self-criticism and more self-acceptance. Most importantly, it will make you less critical of the surrounding environment, finally handling everyday stress.
