Good morning! I know it feels like we’ve been here before as COVID-19 has monopolized our television sets, our screens and our every day lives. The surreal has unfortunately become all too real. And yet, we must go about our lives and find a healthy way to cope. It’s just that simple- it has to be. Here are a few tips to help you cope with the stress and feel healthy (they work for me so I am positive they will work for you- you just have to practice what I am outlining).
Breathe- Your breath will help regulate your anxiety. When you feel your anxiety begin to rear its ugly head, practice deep breathing exercises for 5-7 minutes. Your ability to breathe through it will help calm you. When I do this exercise, I try to visualize and imagine a balloon inflating and deflating.
Speak kindly to yourself- When you feel down, tell yourself that this feeling does not define you. Choose an empowering mantra or a motivational quote that speaks to you and practice saying it aloud or in front of the mirror (I speak to myself all of the time!).
These ARE challenging times- There is no denying that what we are experiencing is challenging. We can make small changes in our lives to help us feel more comfortable with ourselves and our worries about the future. Facetime loved ones, make healthy meals for yourself and your family, enjoy a book or a movie on tv or netflix, catch up on the things you constantly put off doing because you had no time. Time is what we have more of now, so use it wisely while we all stay home and take care of ourselves and our world.
Make this Monday morning a good one!