You are fighting an unknown enemy: the COVID-19
An enemy so small that’s invisible to your naked eye. But this microscopic virus has put many countries in lockdown, killed plenty of people, and has infected millions.
Countries, leaders, medical fraternity, and practically everyone are finding ways to control this pandemic.
And you are quarantined, wondering how you’ll pass each day?
The first few days pass on thinking about the massiveness of this problem, considering how the medical staff is putting their lives at risk for the common good.
But slowly boredom creps in, you catch up on sleep but still miss your old active lifestyle.
Your think about the rigorous exercise routine, shopping sprees, and time spent with your friends.
Now?
Everything has come to a standstill.
You start to feel depressed.
Well, this article will help you to regain your sanity and live life to the fullest, even in these challenging times.
Be grateful
Gratitude arises from your heart and senses. Research studies show that being grateful is strongly linked with greater happiness.
Gratitude helps to acknowledge the goodness in your life. In this turbulent scenario of COVID-19 lockdown, you can be grateful to have a cozy place to stay in, work from the comfort of your our own home, catch up on that much-needed sleep and spend more time with family and friends.
Above all, be grateful to be alive and healthy. When you find the time, write a gratitude journal. Send beautiful thankyou notes via email, WhatsApp, or through social media sites. Spreading positivity cheers the person behind the other screen. If possible, call your friends or family and just give a word of appreciation and without knowing you would have made their day beautiful.
Meditate to stay calm
Hearing all the scary news about the coronavirus, the rapid death tolls, the downturn of the market, the layoffs can create a lot of stress and panic, plus staying inside the four walls with restricted outside movement can cause a lot of emotional stress.
Meditation is one of the keys to regaining your sanity. Research studies say that meditation can reduce stress and also the inflammation that it causes. Practicing meditation controls anxiety, reduces inflammatory chemicals, and boosts emotional health.
This practice increases self-awareness and reduces feelings of loneliness. If you’re self-isolating, meditation may be the best antidote for loneliness. Moreover, it improves sleep, reduces pain, and helps to spread kindness- which is the need of the hour.
Explore the world of music
Music helps to relax and calms your mind and soul. Research studies say that music makes you healthier; it’s not only entertaining but also has plenty of psychological benefits as well. Also, it’s a great stress reliever.
Scientific literature points out that music impacts human stress response, particularly the autonomic nervous system. Also, it helps to recover quickly following a stressor.
A phenomenal science-backed benefit of music is that it makes you feel happier. In these stressful times, where you hear the alarming death rates of people dying due to COVID-19 pandemic, this news is reassuring to hear. Listening to positive music instead of sad rhythms could make you a happier person.
Also, music enhances endurance and performance, reduces the symptoms of depression, improves motivation, and induces restful sleep.
Say a word of prayer
Prayer improves selflessness and makes you more concerned for the greater good than just yourself. With the lockdown of all religious places, it’s wise to spend a few moments in sincere prayer connecting with the Almighty.
It’s also an excellent time to teach your kids the importance of prayer. Connecting with a higher power gives us hope that we’ll pass these turbulent waters and be on the other side of the shore safe and sound.
Prayer relieves stress, maintains a positive outlook on life, improves attitude, and helps you to recover mentally and physically from a troubling situation. In your quiet moments, it will be helpful to pray for those affected by this COVID-19 pandemic, the departed souls, their families, the medical staff who risk their lives, and ultimately the mercy of God to end this pandemic and restore life to normalcy quickly.
Cook something delicious
Have you heard the term therapeutic cooking? Experts say that cooking acts as a creative outlet and boosts your mental health. It will be a healthy distraction during this COVID-19 lockdown. Cooking helps build a new skill and constructively channelizes energy. Also, its the best way to express emotions through a different medium.
Cooking improves your quality of life. When you cook, you’re in control of what you put in your body. Always choose nutrient-dense foods. Include lots of dark green leafy veggies, oily fish, legumes, and berries; it will significantly enhance your emotional health. Instead of watching the headlines all day, try your hand at cooking and enjoy healthy foods.
Cooking boosts creativity and makes you happier. If your friend or neighbor works long hours in the hospital, especially during this pandemic, you can show your appreciation by preparing delicious home-cooked meals for them. A steaming bowl of soup or some home-baked chocolate chip cookies just lets them know you care.
Grow organic herbs
Yea, the buzz word now is green therapy. Gardening can nourish your soul and bring heath and wholesomeness to your life. Research studies proves that surrounding yourself with nature has a positive effect on your mental health. Your brain starts to secrete the happy hormone serotonin and mood-enhancing endorphins when you spend time in nature.
Whether you have lost someone dear to you or are worried about the death toll that takes place all over the world due to COVID-19 pandemic- gardening is a soothing therapy for grief. When you sow some seeds and see the new sprouts, you’re filled with a sense of hope.
Growing some greenery even if it’s in your balcony offers you some physical exercise, precious natural light, and fresh air. Get dirty, dip your hand in the mud and plant some tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and radishes and see the difference.
Pick up a new hobby
COVID-19 lockdown gives you all the time in the world to pick up a new hobby. Whether it is writing, singing, learning a new instrument, or a language, you can try and add a new feather to your cap. You can utilize this time to enhance your knowledge, sign up for some online courses, and spend your time positively in gaining experience.
A hobby fulfills your sense of purpose. Who knows it may also bring in some additional income. Since everyone is so concerned about the salary cuts and layoffs, learning a new skill boosts your self-confidence and self-esteem. Moreover, hobbies enrich your perspective, acts as a stress buster, improves your memory, keeps you physically healthy, and wards off depression.
Some great hobbies that help you fight depression include writing, photography, playing music, sculpting, drawing, painting, sewing, knitting dancing, cooking, doing yoga, and swimming.
Exercise
The best way to protect your sanity during this coronavirus lockdown is to exercise. You may be an outdoor person, would have gone for long jogs and walks. But now you’re quarantined, yet there is hope. You can do some great exercises from the comfort of your home. Practice yoga and do workouts that require no equipment.
Try a 20 minute HIIT workout, a plank based workout, full-body cardio, or a lower body workout with cardio. Find some great youtube videos and start those workouts. Indoor workouts are practically free of cost, improves mood, and fights depression. Indoor exercises like cycling burn calories, build strength, improves cardiovascular fitness, and significantly boost your mental power.
Touch base with friends and family
Though you may miss meeting your friends face to face, meeting them via technology is the next best thing to do. Just pick a phone and call your friend. Share some funny stories and have a hearty laugh. Videochat with your aged parents who may be miles away from you, always thinking about you and fearing for your safety.
Call them, encourage them, and enjoy some blissful family moments. Limit about the troubling scenario that’s gripping the nations. Try Google Hangouts, Zoom or WhatsApp. Start an online book club. Select new ebooks and set a date to discuss them with your friends.
Call your colleagues who have suffered job loss or are staying alone and enquire their safety and welfare. Who knows you may be their only source of hope. You can also send ecards to your friends and family. They’ll love this gesture, and it may even create a ripple effect.
Enjoy a cheat day
Amidst all these noises, hear yourself, think, and enjoy a cheat day. An occasional indulgence may boost your emotional health. Order in your favorite pizza or burger and enjoy eating it watching your favorite movie. Enjoy a cheeseburger, sugary cocktail, or a huge piece of double chocolate cake.
Be mindful and relish what you’re eating, stay hydrated. Cheating often may derail your dietary efforts, so enjoy a cheat meal rarely. Practice moderation; junk food is not filling, so include lots of salads and green vegetables. Bounce back and go back to your eating regimen the next day.
You can do this
Take one day at a time. Believe every day is a gift, spread positivity, kindness, and take good care of yourself. Soon everything would be normal-the world would be free of COVID-19 pandemic. And in the mean time you would have not only preserved your sanity but would’ve also gained much knowledge to live a healthier and a happier life.