HOW TO EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH THE CORONAVIRUS STRESS?

Things were all quarantine and chill a few weeks ago but now the shit has gotten real. The virus might not have affected many of us physically but surely has started to get to our heads. The escalating number of cases each day and the various media channels bombarding with the facts that might or might now be true are surely scaring me! And if they are scaring you then you too are probably prone to be stressed.

The worry and stress come from one question that most of us are afraid of asking; What about the future? To be honest, I can’t predict the future impact of coronavirus accurately but it is quite obvious that there will be a blow on the economy, the international trade, and our lives might not be the same as it used to be for quite some time.

The decisions made by the bureaucrats and the policymakers at this moment would be shaping the future course of action for most of us. Most of us however sadly, don’t have a say in these decisions, so, all we have to do is be calm and trust them.

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

But the stress is surely inevitable at this time! How to deal with this stress? Here are the few simple tips that I like to practice whenever I feel anxious or stressed. I sincerely hope that they help you as well;

ACCEPTANCE

The healthy course of action for coping with difficult situations goes like; Observe, Accept, Release and Transform (read somewhere, not my own philosophy). Without acceptance, there won’t be a transformation. Acceptance is the first step to healing. We should accept the repercussions of this pandemic on our lives. People across the globe are suffering and it has a huge impact on the economy. It is time to embrace reality and prepare ourselves for the change that we have been avoiding for decades. When we come out on the other side of the pandemic the world might not be the same as we remember!

Just accept the fact that this year your sales would be less, your job performance would hamper, you might not be able to travel to your favorite destination as you planned, you won’t see your friends as often as you did and you will spend most time indoors. But you must also remember that this is just a phase and it will pass. It is just a bad year and you will have many more in the future to succeed in life, excel in your career, travel to all your favorite destinations, enjoy with your friends, attend weddings and parties and much more. Be compassionate and commiserate with the people who are losing more than you are, probably a loved one!

HAVE A PLAN-B

Put on your armor and be prepared for the worst. No great wars are won without multiple backup plans. Having a plan B doesn’t indicate that you are being pessimist, it rather helps you deal with the stress and worry of what might happen.

If you are an overthinker like me, you are bound to be stressed right now. What if I lose my job? What if my business crashes? What if I lose all my clients? What if I burn through most of my savings? What if I encounter coronavirus? These are just a few things that might be worrying you. Don’t hesitate to make an elaborate plan of action to avoid falling into the worst-case scenario and do not for a second hesitate to make a backup plan in case even after trying very hard, you still find yourself in the middle of the worst situation you imagined.

Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash

FAITH

Have faith; faith in God, faith in Universe, or simply faith in yourself. Being pessimistic at this point in time is entirely unserviceable to you and your loved ones. Maintaining a positive outlook at this time is hard but still, you can try. Meditate, pray, practice mindfulness, or just talk to people who make you forget about everything! The situation is not under your control and you have to let it run its course without interrupting. It takes strength to sit quietly and wait for the storm to pass and that strength comes from an unknown source that you should respect.

EXERCISE AND YOGA

The importance of exercising and yoga cannot be emphasized enough. It is a fact that exercising releases hormones such as Endorphins which give us a sense of happiness. It is imperative to take time out from your home quarantine schedule to exercise or practice yoga for about an hour. It can be any time of the day and trust me it definitely helps in reducing stress. There are plenty of YouTubers and fitness bloggers as well as amazing apps like CureFit to help you tailor a perfect home workout. Imbibing these practices would not just help you in quarantine but would prove to be beneficial in the longer run. You can also practice fun workouts such as dancing or aerobics, whatever suits you!

Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash

EMPOWER YOURSELF

Remember that hobby you gave up because you did not have time? Or that book you always wanted to read? Wanted to try your hand at cooking? Or just learning some photography skills? What excuse do you have now? You are free as a bird, follow your calling! Learn new skills, empower yourself. Don’t do it to seek any monetary returns just do it for yourself!

Empowering yourself or horning your skills give you self-confidence which unquestionably helps in reducing stress and anxiety.

I sincerely hope that this blog helps you release some tension and worries. The world will be a better place if we all try to help each other out especially in these trying times. Help people around you in every little way possible.

PS: I am not a therapist but I do read a lot about dealing with stress and anxiety since I happen to experience it myself from time to time. Practicing mindfulness and being more self-aware has really helped me and I hope it helps you too!

READ MORE OF MY BLOGS HERE --- APOORVAJOSHIBLOGSPOT