The COVID-19 situation is far from being over. While many states have started lifting some restrictions, there is still a highly contagious virus. Every day, more positive cases across the nation are reported. Hundreds of thousands of have already died from the disease.
When the news is all doom and gloom, how do you stay calm? Mental health issues are becoming an epidemic on their own. However, some things can help you manage overwhelming feelings of helplessness and heightened anxiety during the pandemic.
Make Time for Relaxation
You do not have to be online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For the sake of your mental health, learn when to turn off your devices. Nothing good will come out of endlessly scrolling your Twitter or Facebook thread, especially at night in bed. If there is a new development, it will still be there in the morning.
Schedule a time every day for you to relax and temporarily forget about the world outside your doors. For example, starting eight at night, you are no longer allowed to look at your smartphone. Do things that calm you. Take CBD oil, for example, or listen to your favorite album. Turn on the tap and have a long, luxurious bath.
Get Information from Trusted Sources
Unfortunately, a lot of people capitalize on fear to get more clicks.
It is good that you want to be aware of what is happening around you, but there are a lot of non-experts out there who spread inaccurate or downright false information. Everything you need to know, you can find in official public health websites, like the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control Prevention. Read stories from trusted sources.
Stay Healthy
You are not entirely defenseless against COVID-19. Your body is capable of fighting your disease, but it needs your help.
In addition to washing your hands with soap and water, wearing a mask, and social distancing, you should have a balanced diet and exercise regularly. A healthy body is your armor against disease, including COVID-19. If you ever get the virus, you likely will have symptoms that are not severe or no symptoms at all.
Keep Your Mind Busy
Being idle will only allow your mind to wander and, before you know it, you imagine worst-case scenarios.
Do not let it get to that point. Keep your mind busy with fun activities that you can do at home. Read a book, for example, or binge exciting shows on Netflix/Hulu.
Finally, bake bread. You have probably seen an increase of sourdough and banana bread on your friends’ social media feeds. It distracts them from the bad situation outside, and at the end of the activity, they get yummy bread to boot.
Other activities that can keep you calm are knitting and crocheting, finishing puzzles, drawing and painting, and taking a nap.
If things continue to spiral out of control, talk to people. When health experts said you need to distance and isolate, they do not mean that you should completely cut off contact from everyone else. Zoom, Facebook Messenger, FaceTime, Skype are available for communicating and socializing with people you know. It does not beat being physically present with someone, but it will make you feel less alone.
Meta title: Ways to Manage Anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Meta description: The pandemic has also triggered the rise of mental health conditions among the population. During these turbulent times, how do people stay calm and keep anxiety at bay?