Ten Ways to Deal with the Anxiety Surrounding the Coronavirus Pandemic

It’s okay if you have anxiety because of the Coronavirus Pandemic.

It’s okay if you’re worried about your future.

It’s okay if you’re overwhelmed by everything that’s happening right now.

Although the stress and anxiety you may be feeling is a perfectly valid response to this uncertain time, it can be damaging to the immune system over long periods.

It’s why I wanted to share ten easy and accessible ways to help you stay calm and grounded throughout this unprecedented time.

Ten Ways to Stay Calm During the Coronavirus Pandemic:

1. Take a few deep breaths.

Research shows that your breath is a powerful tool to ease stress and make you feel less anxious. Taking a few deep breaths can make a big difference in managing your anxiety if you make it a part of your daily routine.

2. Journal about how you’re feeling.

By writing about your thoughts and feelings, you can gain valuable insights into why you’re feeling the way you’re feeling. This can help you to release the emotions you’re feeling, identify what you can control and what you can’t, and help you to map out a plan which focuses on the factors you can control.

3. Mindfully drink something.

Moving your attention from your mind to your body can help to reduce your anxiety. As you take a sip of your favorite drink, pay attention to the temperature of it. Notice the the way it tastes and feels in your mouth.

4. Get creative.

Creativity engages and focuses our minds on the task at hand – and helps us to move past our feelings of stress and anxiety. Research actually shows that different forms of artistic expressions can decrease in our levels of cortisol, a hormone that the body secretes to respond to stress.

5. Move your body.

All forms of movement medicine (exercise, dancing, stretching, etc) has long been proven to increase the feel good hormones in the body. Regular exercise can also help you to sleep better, which can further reduce anxiety and depression.

6. Limit your daily news exposure.

There is a difference between being responsibly informed, and being overwhelmed and inundated by what’s happening. Decide when is the best time for you to catch up on the impact of Coronavirus. Try to avoid checking in throughout the day.

7. Listen to soothing music.

8. Watch funny movies or TV shows.

9. Spend time on a hobby.

10. Connect with loved ones regularly.

This is probably the most important point on this list. Having meaningful connection with loved ones will help you to feel supported during this very difficult time. If you’d like some guidance on maintaining connections while social distancing, check out my recent post here.

Everything surrounding this Coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming and stressful.

This makes it even more essential to take care of yourself.

Even though this list not exhaustive, I hope that it can help you to stay healthy throughout this time.

By doing a few small things everyday, you can help to reduce stress and inflammation in your body and bring some space and calm to your anxious mind.

Know someone who might need these tips?

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