Recent studies have revealed that the stress and anxiety produced by the COVID-19 pandemic are taking a much deeper toll than initially anticipated. Not only do people feel frightened and powerless in the face of this new threat, but the media has complicated matters by putting a political spin on what should be an issue of global health. What’s worse, a majority of people are only able to interact with friends and family on social media, so they can’t cope with stress in the proper way. Since social sites are known to exacerbate negative emotions, the human race could not be in a more tense position right now.
If you find yourself feeling anxious, depressed, or angry about the state of things, take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. To find a bit of inner peace amidst all of the madness, consider these easy ways to cope with stress and get through another day of isolation.
Move and Shake
Did you know that exercise is a scientifically proven way to improve your mood? While plenty of people are aware of this to some extent, it isn’t always enough motivation to get an individual to commit to a workout routine. However, it could be exactly what you need to get through quarantine. By dedicating at least 15 minutes each day to exercise, you provide your body with the stimulation it needs to keep vital systems active. Your cardiovascular system, for example, benefits exponentially from the decision to increase your heart rate in a safe and controlled manner.
Dedicated exercise is not the only way to improve your mood through movement. In fact, any activity can be useful. Feel bummed out after reading a recent set of stats on the virus? Put your favorite upbeat song on and dance. It doesn’t matter that the cat is giving you weird looks or that your neighbors might be alarmed by the sudden noise. Freeing yourself in this physical way can help literally shake your blues away and give you a refreshed perspective.
Get It Out of Your Head
A majority of a person’s fears and anxieties exist exclusively in the mind. What makes matters worse is allowing these negative emotions to stay in your internal world. If you never discuss your frustrations or upset musings with anyone, then you will never be able to imagine anything other than the worst-case scenario. When you hear yourself say the words aloud, however, it can give you a newfound sense of control over the problem, as if speaking about the issue puts it into the real world with real solutions and not imagined ones.
If you don’t have anyone to talk to directly while you’re stuck in isolation, you can achieve the same results by writing thoughts down or speaking them into a recording device. The act of getting the thought out, whether on a piece of paper or in a sound file, is what matters here. You might even find it helps to just start saying bad thoughts out loud so you can recognize them and move past them before they have enough time to fester within.
Laugh It All Away
Laughter is often said to be the best medicine. While this is obviously not true in a literal sense, it can do wonders for a person’s disposition. When you laugh, it immediately puts you in a better frame of mind. Even nervous laughter exists to help a person process a situation that would otherwise be painful or upsetting. Put on something guaranteed to make you laugh out loud, and you’ll find it works as the perfect distraction to some of the bigger problems of the world.
Though this has been a trying time for the human race, you don’t need to let the weight of the world crush you. Find ways to keep your spirits up and cope with stress.