12 Mindfulness Keeping Cool Tips During Covid-19
How not to stress and build anxiety over the pandemic but to live life
While coronavirus brings a bit of stress from mask wearing, social distancing and loss of jobs, it is crucial to keep a positive attitude no matter what.
Figuring out what to do and not to do, takes a moment and taking an inventory of your feelings and how they can derail or elevate, is a choice.
One thing that can really help is learning how to change your mindset and using some techniques that will help you stay calm, detach and take a step back when things get tough.
- Breathe — A deep breath can take away some of the anxiety felt at the moment and change your state of mind. Purpose breathing has a calming effect. Five deep breaths can change the way you currently see your world of anxiety and stress. While the undeniable benefit of breathing is rewarding, you can do it anywhere and anytime. Note, deep breathing creates a different physiological response in your body and allows you to reset your focus in a more amicable manner.
Step one: Breathe in through your nose. Step two. Hold your breath for four seconds. Step three: Exhale from the mouth supported by diaphragm.
2. Take Care of Others — Doing for others help you get your mind off of yourself and onto another. Sharing with another, releases stress because there is joy in doing for another. When we take care of other people we cut the cycle of self-directed rumination, and we begin to create new pathways in our minds. Taking care of others removes their stress, and shows our mind evidence of a stress-free world. Taking care of another could be as simple as keeping someone company or running an errand for a neighbor.
3. Meditate
Meditation does wonders for the mind, body and soul! Can be done so simply. Going within brings a sense of peace on the outside. Psychologically meditation is truly medicine to the soul. Think of meditation as a detox for the spirit separating yourself momentarily from all the cares of the day. There are different ways to meditate. There are apps and videos to assist in any form of meditation seeking.
4. Move
My go to stresses reliever is exercise. Anything from cycling, aerobics and/or dancing. Each of them relaxes me. Years ago I had a high stress job and used the treadmill to de-stress and exercising became a new way of life for me. Also, yoga, once a week, calms me down and relaxes and moves my body in a different and effective way from my normal exercise routine. Yoga moves the body and the mind simultaneously. Yoga moves the mind from thought patterns around exhaustion, irritation, etc., into something much more enjoyable and healthy. Other movements like walking, stretching are other options to get in sync. Movement for the body far outweighs sitting.
5. Self Care
This should be number one to all when starting your day. Like they say on the airplane, “put on your mask first, then help another.” If you are not taking care of self first then you are of no benefits to another or others. Self care is not selfish, it’s self first then another which affects you and another in a good manner. We are energy affecting each other, when you feel good, it’s not just you you’re affecting; it’s every person you come in contact with.”
6. Use the Power of Smell
The scent of lavender and eucalyptus are two of my favorites. As I inhale their fragrances, they relax me and calms me down.
Find time throughout your day to unplug from your phone, zooming and tune into the people around you and yourself. Coronavirus pandemic stress as is a lot of stress is born out can’t do and can do but they don’t have to define your entire life. Take control.
8. Listen and Connect With Others
Awareness is the key. Be aware of self and others especially during the holiday season. Heat what they say, watch what they do and note their body language will help you to assist anther without just focusing on self. This closely related to helping another and getting your mind off of self. Helping another makes you feel good.
9. Do Some Intention Setting
You may be a bit nervous about going to an unusual family gathering and feeling uneasy. Do some fun activities and allow it to take away stress and relax you. Relax your mind and the rest of you will follow.
10. Go Easy on Yourself
Make a conscious effort not to be hard on yourself. Life comes with it’s ups and downs, that can be hard on oneself whatever the reasons. Give yourself a break and see the glass as half full. Remember that you are human first and life happens while we are living it. Take the bitter with the sweet as you allow yourself to wrap your brain around the fleeting moment.
11. Reframe Your Mindset
You are what you think so think right, positive and rewarding thoughts. Purposefully, re-framing your mind from anxiety and stresses will change your mindset from negative to positive. Visualization in a positive manner will change your mindset as you monitor your energy. When you feel good, it will be reactive towards others you encounter.
12. Do Something for Yourself
Feeling overwhelmed or anxious, get away from all. Step away and see the situation for what it is and accept. Now, you can relax your mind by doing that one special thing that you have been intending to do just for self. While doing that special bucket list item, note your inner feelings and hold on to it. While feeling relax, see the situation as it is and know that it will pass in time.
In conclusion, this is the perfect time to be thankful and grateful for much and be not stressed or anxious about things beyond your control. Hold onto your joy and affect others. When you feel or see your joy slipping away and being replaced with stress and anxiety, step back and breathe. Check your feelings at the door, asap. Find that one method from above to calm yourself down and gain a new perspective during this pandemic season and believe in time it like everything will pass. Whatever has you uneasy, find your inner peace anecdote first, then move forward.
EP McKnight a writer, teacher, stage playwright, fitness coach and constant dreamer. She is a GCU doctorate student in Performance Psychology, Graduate and Undergraduate in Educational Psychology and Communications at Fordham University New York, New York. She’s on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and you can read more of her on www.epmcknight.com
Additional reads:
