Hello lovely readers! Well, what a year it’s been so far – who’d have thought a few months ago that we’d be living in such a historically significant moment (and no, surprisingly I’m not actually referring to Brexit).
We find ourselves in a bubble of time which none of us have really experienced before – the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has swept the world and now some of us are stuck in our houses, or some are working bravely on the “front line” – simply because we have to.
The relentlessness of the news, with constant updates, or social media with it’s endless ability to scroll over literally millions of posts regarding the virus – can put us in a really anxious way.
I myself am experiencing anxiety attacks for the first time in a few years, after several years previously of constant panic and anxiety attacks (darn it, I was making such good progress!). Chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness, dry mouth… some of which are the symptoms of the virus which doesn’t help! It’s really difficult, and perhaps some people are experiencing this anxiety for the first time – and finding it super scary.
Firstly, please know, that you are NOT alone in this at all, and now more than ever do we need to look after our mental health (as well as the physical) and that of others too. It’s a trying time, and remaining positive is easier said than done, even for the most bouncy among us! If you have suspected you may have the virus, it’s also good to look after yourself, and rest up, and some of these tips may help you keep that ongoing anxiety at bay.
I also know you’ve probably heard a few of these ways to remain positive already, but honestly, I’m finding that in combination, the below tips are really helping me – and I’ve been feeling much better because of it!
1. Download a meditation or anxiety app
This isn’t an advert for these apps, I just genuinely find them really helpful. Calm or Headspace are really good apps, and personally I use Calm. If I’m in a little bit of a stress-pickle, I’ll load up the app and play one of the 10 or 20 minute anxiety meditations. At night I find it easier to fall asleep too whilst listening to one of the sleep stories!
Practising meditation can be super useful in daily life, but I can also appreciate it’s not for everyone! Plus some of the narrators’ voices aren’t for everyone too, so have a little gander and see if it works for you.
Download Calm Android / Calm IOS
Download Headspace Android / Headspace IOS
2. Enjoy a hobby or start a creative outlet
Whether it’s painting, drawing, reading, blogging, or knitting, with a bit of time on your hands, it can be a great idea to get your creative juices flowing. I’ve recently been painting and it gave me time to think of nothing but the colours and shapes. It was really nice to have my brain focussed on other things for a little while.
Reading can be a fantastic escapism, especially something light and easy to read. Personally I love an easy-to-read rom com, such as books by Milly Johnson, Sophie Kinsella, Jojo Moyes or Zoe May – in fact Zoe May has many books at 99p on Kindle! Other books are, of course, available too…
If you’re stuck for some ideas, and aren’t that creative, why not try gardening or a bit of DIY if something needs fixing up? Play some board games or cook, or try yoga?
3. Mute keywords on social media
The more time we have on our hands, the mobile-addicts among us can find it harder to stop scrolling social media. Unfortunately most things you see nowadays on socials are about Coronavirus – whether it be good or bad, it’s relentless, and can be super overwhelming.
A good idea is to mute certain words, such as COVID-19, Coronavirus, illness, Italy, China etc. You can do this by –
Head to Settings and Privacy > Choose Content Preferences > Under Safety, it says “Muted” click it > Muted Words > Add Muted Word > Enter all the relevant keywords you want to mute and choose how long for.
Unfortunately you can’t mute individual words on Facebook, but you can “Snooze” accounts which are posting a lot about the coronavirus. Simply when you see a post in your newsfeed, click the three little dots in the far corner of the post, and choose “Snooze”.
Like Facebook, you can click on the 3 dots on the far corner of any post by an account posting about coronavirus and mute them!
4. Limit your time looking at the news or internet about Coronavirus
News sites, programmes and some broadcasters are thriving off the Coronavirus – the more sensational the headline, the more clicks they get, and the more clicks they get, the more advertising revenue they receive.
Wonder why we’ve only heard from the people who have really bad symptoms? Because the person with no symptoms or a small dry cough isn’t interesting enough to make the news (despite being the most common condition of the virus).
This is why it can be super frightening and overwhelming – when we only see the seriously negative effects of the virus, the building numbers and the sensationalised stories which feed our anxiety. Of course some news stations are just reporting facts – but even so, the sheer amount its A LOT even for the most news savvy.
Limiting your time listening to the news or reading articles can help reduce anxiety. Perhaps only watch 10minutes of updates – if you’re in England, it can be reassuring to watch the Chief Medical Officer on the daily broadcast. Or read only certain updates so you know what to do.
It is my opinion alone, but personally I am trying to limit myself to no more than 30minutes a day spent consuming Coronavirus related content. Of course it can be hard when talking to people, but as long as you’re checking in on yourself and not getting lost in a rabbit hole of news, it’s of course okay to talk about your worries.
5. Create a positive environment
Listen to music you enjoy, smile, still joke and laugh! Talk on the phone to your loved ones, and read positive books and watch happy movies!
We’re so lucky to live in a time where Netflix, Amazon Prime, Amazon Kindle etc exist – with plenty of positive movies and TV series on – perfect for binging at this time.
Reading positive books and checking in with loved ones on the phone can also boost our social interactions without being close geographically to them. Try and keep as positive and calm as possible!
6. Go Outdoors
If you’re fortunate enough to live close to some green spaces, then it’s really great for both your physical and mental health to get outside and have a walk. Don’t necessarily talk to anyone, but you may not even come across people!
The National Trust and RSPB in the UK have opened their sites for FREE, and there are countless other sites around the country which are open and you can go explore and wander to get some fresh air. Many of these places are completely empty, so it’s perfect to have a little gander and fill your lungs with some fresh oxygen.
*Editors note – they have now SHUT the National Trust and RSPB sites due to overcrowding. Although other outdoor spaces are around!
7. Watch some funny videos
There are some really funny videos circulating the internet, especially on TikTok and Instagram. It’s really lovely to see how humanity comes together and remains positive at this uncertain time, all over the world.
8. Dabble in some exercise
Similarly to getting outdoors, exercise is one of the best mood-boosters out there! Luckily on YouTube and other sites, there are plenty of video tutorials, sessions and classes which mean you can enjoy a variety of exercises from your own home.
Joe Wicks already has lots of free content on his YouTube and is starting his live PE lesson for kids from Monday on YouTube, and there are other Yoga sessions and keep-fit workouts which are free!
Alternatively just do some star jumps or running on the spot in any room in your house – anything to get your heart rate up!
9. Practise breathing and mindfulness
Breathing is so important when you have anxiety. Often we have shortness of breath cause we are hyperventilating. Taking a few moments to practise your breathing can we a great quick fix to calming down.
Another great trick is the 4 /7 /8 breathing technique.
- Breathe in quietly through the nose for 4 seconds.
- Hold the breath for a count of 7 seconds.
- Exhale forcefully through the mouth, pursing the lips and making a “whoosh” sound, for 8 seconds.
- Repeat the cycle up to 4 times.
10. Look after yourself
Your physical health may take a knock at this turbulent time. Do the basics to help yourself the best you can. Drink plenty of water, keep up your vitamin C intake and get plenty of rest. Avoid alcohol and too much junk food.
Paracetamol for any aches or pains, and don’t be too hard on yourself!
If you can have plenty of fruit and vegetables too, spinach for Iron and veggies for fibre.
And don’t forget to keep up the personal hygiene: wash your hands!
And Remember… This won’t be forever
Even if it feels like there is no end in sight, this is a temporary time, where measures are being put in place to help protect people. It may feel overwhelming worrying about yourself or others, but you will be okay and come through it.
Sending love to you all,
Thanks for these tips Eve 🙂 . Trying a dating app can also help if you feel alone during the pandemic