With the pandemic and the quarantine worrying all of us, stress just becomes inevitable. Yet, there are many ways you can try to manage and keep stress at bay.
Talk to people you trust.
When the stress level seems too much to handle, it is always best to stop and calm yourself. Reach out to friends and family; have conversations with them. Talk to people you trust. Stay in touch with your support
system and be a support to others too. Try to notice and be sensitive of other people’s needs. It’s also good to have an emergency plan – know who, where, and how to get professional help, just in case you feel like everything else is failing.
Keep it healthy.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is known to help reduce the level of stress in people. So eat right, move whenever you can, have enough sleep, and maintain social relationships. Stay away from vices.
Let your emotions out.
If you keep all your feelings bottled up, eventually you will explode. Turn to a hobby to help you release your emotions: music, painting, writing. Take this as an opportunity to do more of the things you are passionate about.
Get the facts.
The uncertainty we all find ourselves in definitely does not help with keeping our stress at a manageable level. Keep yourself informed. Gather information from credible sources to help you determine the risk and give you an overall view of the situation. It may help you take informed and reasonable precautions to keep you and your loved ones safe and help you calm your nerves.
Know how to limit.
Information overload may cause more damage than help. Limit the time you and your family spend watching or listening to media coverage that may be upsetting. Avoid overusing social media platforms and avoid engaging in word wars; there’s a very fine line between constructive debate and (cyber) flaming.
Keep a routine.
Having a regular routine and following a schedule can help you create a sense of normalcy. This will also help you make better use of your time. Try not to spend the day lying in bed the whole time.
Be optimistic.
While it is good practice to be realistic about things, having a can-do attitude can make a great difference. Try to face things with a positive outlook, one day at a time. Try not to focus on the negative.
Pray.
Prayers are powerful. Pray for healing, pray for calm. Prayers bring patience and hope, and with these come strength and tranquility.
Related articles:
The COVID-19 international timeline
How to fill time when it is best to stay indoors
10-Word Story (How is this pandemic changing you?)
Coping with COVID-19 uncertainty
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*Images submitted for United Nations Global Call Out To Creatives to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Taken from Unsplash.
Banner photo by LUM3N from Pixabay.
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