The year 2020 felt like a roller-coaster ride; it left us to deal with a pandemic that changed everything for the newer, more digitally-dependant generation. People had to stay isolated due to the imposed lockdowns, businesses were closed, traveling was halted, and people were left stranded in countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to lockdowns, standard operating procedures (SOPs) were put in place for every human to follow. Now though, people still need to follow those SOPs while going out because Covid-19 hasn’t ended, which is why we’re still dealing with a lot of pandemic-related stress today.
Following are five ways on how to reduce your stress levels during an ongoing pandemic. Add these habits to your routine to keep your mind healthy and happy.
- Consult a professional
Sometimes all you need is a person to talk to. The best way to get a hold of your chaotic thoughts is to consider talking to a professional. A professional can help you express your feelings related to stress because only after expressing your feelings will you get to the core of the issue. This way, you can develop a sense of pointing out when you need to rest your thoughts, which leads to overthinking.
People have shown signs of improvement every time they consulted a therapist, but due to an ongoing pandemic, going out is challenging, which is why many professionals made their services available online so that people can reach out to them with ease. What’s more, is that education has also adopted this organizational shift.
Students who couldn’t pursue their education in universities because of imposed lockdowns were also affected, and they too resorted to online institutions. Suppose you’re interested in understanding the human mind and listening to people. In that case, you too can register for an applied psychology degree online from the comfort of your home without wasting time and continue education without hindrance.
- Limit your news intake
People tend to go overboard with watching the news at times, especially when there is a situation like a pandemic because it becomes hard to keep you away from receiving all kinds of information. What people don’t understand is that there’s a lot of fake news that gets circulated quickly. It becomes hard to distinguish the report’s authenticity, and people end up believing in lots of things that aren’t true.
It is better if you’d try to educate yourself about an issue from authentic sources so you’d know what’s true and what isn’t. Once you have list 3-4 channels, follow the information they circulate only. If you still find yourself getting overwhelmed, you can distract your mind by focusing on other things. You can also consider talking to the people around you to understand the accuracy of the news better.
- Spend time with family and friends
You can try to communicate with your friends and family members, as well. They can provide you with a comfortable environment you can trust. You can take this opportunity to be grateful for the people around you. Spend time with them, and if you feel like you don’t want to talk at all, you can always spend time with others by participating in an indoor activity like board games, watching movies, etc. A multiplayer video game also works well to take your mind off stressful situations.
Technological advancements have also brought many opportunities for people to keep themselves busy by virtually hanging out with each other. People can play games online or have long video calls without being physically present at specific locations. People can also watch movies together virtually through Netflix Watch parties or many such available platforms.
- Don’t forget to exercise
Exercising brings along many benefits with it. However, reducing stress is a significant advantage that physical activity offers. Exercise has many positive impacts on your mental health. The good part is, you don’t have to go to a gym or take hours out of your busy schedule to incorporate physical activity into your routine. Research claims that even a 15 minutes long workout a day can help you reduce your stress levels.
Getting in a workout doesn’t have to be a strenuous one; you can go for a walk outside at your convenience, keeping in mind all the pandemic-related precautions you have to take. Once you start working out, you’ll have less stress, greater motivation, and good sleep patterns.
To avoid boredom, you can try different types of workouts after following good YouTube channels, so you have something new to try every day
- Set an organized routine
To stay away from unnecessary thoughts about the pandemic, you can spend a few minutes before going to sleep by planning your routine for the next day. This way, you will also end up being more productive. It’s a win-win situation! Following a daily routine will also help you in staying organized.
You will hardly get the time to indulge yourself in any stressful situation. Think of a new hobby that you can carry out in your spare time. Try experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes, and make sure to enjoy whatever you do.
Conclusion
Going through a pandemic can be anything but a stress-free situation, so introducing new things to your routine will not only keep you away from negative thoughts but also give you a chance to listen to your body and rest. Try to limit the information you receive about the virus, and you will understand to control your stress levels.
