As COVID-19 slowly makes its way into major cities and small suburbs across the nation, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to remain calm and not become immersed in the international corona panic.
We have been told by varying authorities to say in our homes in order to prevent the spread, but that does not mean that we should go crazy inside and solely focus our attention on what is happening with the world outside.
Try to limit how much news you watch, especially some of the overhyped reporting that only intensifies fear and anxiety. First and foremost, get updates and facts from reliable sources, and then focus your attention elsewhere.
You can avoid contact with other people and wash your hands more carefully, but your ability to remain calm comes from within. That means you’ll have to take the necessary steps in reducing your stress and anxiety and promoting calmness while the virus runs its course.
We’re going to go over four of the best ways that you can stay calm and centered in times of COVID-19 panic!
Try Meditation & Mindfulness
So, if you’re anxious and stressed, as most of us, as a result of the rapid spread of Coronavirus and you’ve never tried meditation or any other mindfulness technique in the past, this is the perfect time to try them out and get some practice under your belt.
According to the Mayo Clinic, meditation can play a huge role in helping you to maintain your mental and emotional health, even benefiting aspects of your physical health. Here’s what meditation can do for you.
- Greater outlook on life (positivity)
- Increased feelings of calmness
- Greater self-awareness
- Reduced levels of anxiety and stress.
- Improved focus
The best part is: There are different types of meditation.
If you’re able to focus for long periods of time, you might want to try out guided meditations or visualization techniques. When you’re looking to stay more active while you’re quarantined, you can give yoga or Pilates a go!
Fear (real or imagined) is lethal to the immune system. It can set off a chain of responses that ripple through your body causing all kinds of malfunctioning. You already know that the leading cause of the disease is largely stress and chronic anxiety. Learn all you can about the damaging effects of stress and then find ways to calm down and get centered.
One of the best solutions is meditation. Take some time and learn the art of meditation. It will calm you down, center your mind and boost your immune system as well. In this article, I explain some of the benefits of meditation in detail, as well as how to get started.
Finding a Creative Outlet
You might be stuck in the house for the next few weeks, but that doesn’t mean you have to resort to going stir crazy. In fact, that’ll probably only increase your feelings of panic during such trying times!
Now is a great time to try out some new (or old) creative hobbies. When you’re focused on building or creating something new, you’re reducing the amount of focus on the negativity surrounding you. That means creativity is a solid way of helping you to relax.
A creative outlet can be almost anything. Here are a few things you might want to try out (if you have the supplies in your home).
- Painting, coloring, or drawing
- Singing or playing musical instruments
- Taking photos or videos of things you enjoy
- Building something with things lying around the house
- Writing
- Puzzles
- Reading something and then writing an essay about it (yes, remember English 101 class?). This is a great way to take your mind off the world’s troubles.
Basically, the goal here is to find an activity or task that requires an intense amount of focus and makes you happy. You won’t even notice that you spent the last hour drawing your favorite cartoon character.
Start A Healthy Habit that Boosts Your Immune System
Now is the perfect time to start that work out program that you’ve been to busy to do in the past. There are many scientific studies that prove that physical exercise lowers stress and strengthens your immune system.
Or you could finally start cooking healthier meals, become intentional about drinking more water, or even honing in on that consistent sleep schedule. Just about any healthy habit that you can think of can reduce inflammation and boost your immune system in some way shape or form. So instead of spending countless hours worrying and complaining about the government, do something positive for yourself that will also help others in the long run.
Giving Back & Helping Others
It’s completely natural to be fearful of the unknown but giving back to others can help you to tackle this fear. When you’re giving back to the community or helping those in need, you’ll be working to spread compassion and happiness rather than fear and anxiety.
With so many people sick or self-quarantined, most people aren’t permitted to leave the home. However, these individuals do still have needs that they now can’t meet on their own.
As long as you’re keeping your distance and not exposing anyone to the virus, you can deliver food and groceries or do their yard work. It’ll make you feel good about yourself while also helping those who need it!
Also, don’t be afraid to write a check. If you are blessed enough to have your finances covered during this season of unprecedented upheaval, and you know of a family who is out of work and struggling. Consider making a financial donation or send groceries to their house. No gift is too small, every little bit will help.
Final Thoughts
I’m not trying to make light of the current crisis that we are finding ourselves in. What I am doing is making a few suggestions on how you can help yourself in small ways that will go a long way. Perhaps you can’t do much to cure or stop the spread of COVID-19, but there are things you can do that can reduce your panic and invoke an overwhelming sense of calmness.
By learning the skill of mindfulness, looking for a creative outlet, strengthening your mind and body, and even giving back to those who need it, you’ll be able to stay calm and centered, even now in the midst of the global corona panic.
Stay well + prosper!!
Elaine xo