Let it Bee

We all are in the midst of a ‘once in a lifetime’ kind of crisis. The impact is just not on physical health but economy, performance of business, personal wealth and free-movement. And what adds on to all this is the element of uncertainty. Fear and anxiety in such times can be overwhelming and could trigger strong emotions in adults and children. It could lead to change in sleeping and eating patterns, difficulty in sleeping/ focussing and in worst case- scenarios, increased use of tobacco, alcohol or other substances. Hence, it’s important to cope with such stress as it would make you, your loved ones and even your community stronger.

Here are some basic tips that could help. I personally follow them and found them to be effective.

1.Limit your news consumption- both source and time utilised

Sometimes, some days, ignorance is indeed blissful. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting and could take a toll on your mind. So set a limit on news consumption. Have only one and trusted source for your news updates. It could be news aggregates, search engines or social media. But do restrict your source to anyone of these and also have a time limit to this activity. Ideally, it should not go beyond 30 min as you could skim the headlines and have a fair idea on what’s happening

2.Connect with loved ones

This may come across as an over-rated tip but it helps. Leverage this downtime to pick-up that phone and call or even message your friend/family. However, it’s important to converse on things unrelated to the outbreak and eventual outcome etc.

3.Set a routine

If life was normal, you would be having a routine now. Alter your previous routine to adapt to current scenario and stick to it. Just because you are at home doesn’t mean you are NOT entitled to rest. Proper sleep and rest are critical to keep stress at bay. TGIF feelings should still be cherished and weekends should be treated as weekends. You should make that time to unwind

4.Stay active

Eat healthy as and when possible, stay hydrated and do that exercise. Rediscover your hobbies which got left out when ‘Life Happened’. Clean those shelves- be it books, clothes, crockery.

5.Make a post lock down wish list

This is a very helpful activity. This not only boosts your optimism but also keeps you occupied on how to achieve your to-dos. It also gives you something to look forward to!

6.Breathe and let it go

Breathing would sound extremely natural and mundane. However, few good deep breaths quickly balance energy and even stabilize moods. Pranayam comes extremely handy here. A regular practice can help you deal with stress, depression, insomnia, improve your focus and increase your self-awareness too. It’s simple and definitely worth a try following these 4 best pranayama exercises  

While all the above tips would help you sail through each day, end of it all- coping with stress boils down to accepting/embracing this change. The more you resist, the more restless you will feel. The more you accept and embrace, easier you would go with the flow.

So #stayhome #staysafe #staycalm, for this too shall pass!