Recently, life has drastically changed & it's changed the way we live. It's hard to escape the harsh realities of this moment when we're constantly confronted with the latest information to Twitter, on our televisions & in the news alerts that pop up on our phones. More often that not, this 24-hour news cycle that has left me feeling anxious & helpless. It's a lot to handle & it's completely understandable if you're feeling the same way.
Fortunately, there are things we can do to help us regain some control. Our bodies are in survival mode working with a threat we don't quite know yet. But there are techniques to make sure stress doesn't overwhelm us.
It's been a bit of trial & error. I've been working out ways to stay informed about what's going on in the world but I can't ignore the impact it's taking on my mental well being. If you've found yourself in the same position, here's what helping me cope so maybe they'll help you too.
Limit Your News Intake
I'm a wee bit of a news junkie, I'm constantly scrolling through Twitter, seeing all the COVID-19 updates & it's been making me feel more worried than informed lately. To help filter it out of your social feeds you can mute out certain words or accounts that fill your timeline with news about the outbreak. It's also been really helpful to limit checking any news sites to just the morning & evenings for all the necessary information without having to go on social media.
Take One Day At A Time
It's easy to catastrophize, especially when facing the very real threat of a global pandemic but try not to think about what could happen weeks or months from now. Often when we are anxious, we spiral into the future & it's usually the worst case scenario we land on. But there are still things which are certain. There are people in your life you love. There are things that can make you smile. The sun will still rise & set. When the news is too much, try this technique to help you feel more grounded. Using your senses, ask yourself what can you see, smell & feel?
Guided Mediation
I'll be the first to admit that meditation was never my thing & I always had thought it was a bit silly. I've since completed changed my mindset & highly recommend the Calm app. Meditating while taking long, slow breathes signals to your body that you are safe. I find that mediating in the mornings help set a good grounding & mindset for the rest of the day & mediating at night allows me to head off to sleep with a clear mind leaving any of the stresses from the day behind.
Get Some Fresh Air
Staying at home is crucial to help slow the spread of COVID-19 but make sure you step away from your screens & the news from time to time. It's really important to get out of the house to be outdoors & breathe in some fresh air. Spend some time reading in your backyard, stand outside on your balcony or go for a short walk while keeping a safe distance from those around you.
Remind Yourself That This Is Temporary
We don't know a lot about what the future holds in regards to COVID-19 but we do know that the measures that have been put in place are a temporary solution to help protect our communities over the long-term. It the meantime, embrace what you can control in the situation & know that you're not the only one who feels worried. Often we tend to feel alone in our anxieties but that past few weeks has demonstrated just how much a whole globe can come together in their feelings about COVID-19.
How are you coping? Are you doing okay?
B x
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