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The COVID-19 coronavirus is effecting all reaches of the world; and there’s quite a bit of angst to sit alongside. Panic in the tune of toilet tissue hoarding and hand sanitizer stockpiles; whether for having ample supply or a “get rich quick scheme” (it didn’t work for two brothers in TN, so I recommend against this as a source of income if you’re giving thought to it… AND IT’S JUST BEING SELFISH, not thinking of anyone else!!). I wonder what good it’s going to do any of us. Mostly, I can’t see that it will. In fact, I find that the more I focus on what we may need rather than what we do have, I begin to feel really anxious. I don’t like that unnerving sensation, so I try to keep my thoughts in the positive. When I’m finding it’s a difficult task, I have a few things that I do to help the good ones override the bad. I’m sharing a few and I hope you’ll find that one or more is useful for you from the list below:
Create a gratitude list. This may seem a little nonsensical in the current state of affairs. For some, it certainly may be more difficult to make that list than it is for myself and many others. But, I believe we ALL can find a few things for which to give thanks. I choose to list three as a minimum daily, but I suppose you could list as many as you’d like.
Maybe for you it was a smile or a kind word someone shared today. For someone else, they or a loved one received good news from a doctor’s visit. Or it could be that you were able to have time to read a book, work on a hobby, talk with a friend (on the phone probably during the COVID-19 crisis?!). The list could include anything as small as a “sign for above” or as elaborate as, oh I don’t know…an expensive item that would never be in your budget that just happened to be gifted to you. My point is, it certainly doesn’t have to be a big ticket item, and often it’s in the little things for many of us.
Take a few minutes for meditation/mind clearing. This is one I have to work on, and have not yet quite perfected. Often times I incorporate this alongside my gratitude list. The combination of the two work better for me to clear my mind of negativity. After making my gratitude list, I sit quietly and reflect on each situation I named.
Write a journal entry. If I’m feeling worried or fretful, I jot it down on paper. Most of the time I find writing it down starts my thoughts to working on a reasonable solution, or at least it gets it from my mind to rest on the paper until I have a clearer answer worked out.
Take a long soak in the bathtub. THIS is one that is most relaxing for me, and another that I use in a combination with a gratitude list – usually a mental gratitude list. I choose one of our soaps with a calming scent (usually Lavender for me) and leisurely lather up face to toe in a steamy tub full of water. I soak until the water cools. I follow with a warm water rinse and an unhurried dry off. I then complete my routine with our lotion in the same tranquil aroma and at the same tranquil speed of movement. By the time I’ve reached this point in the process, I feel much less anxious and again, have usually been able to have thoughts or ideas in place that are suitable resolution to whatever has me feeling apprehensive.
It’s important to take care of yourself during these times of uncertainty, as you can’t take care of anyone else unless you first take care of yourself, which includes stress-reduction. Will these tips work for everyone? Probably not all of them will work for everyone. Possibly not a one of them will work for some folks. Feel free to tweak any or all of the ideas to function in a manner that is beneficial to alleviate stress for you. Along with these suggestions, be sure to include a healthy, well balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep. Do you have ideas that you can add? Feel free to share those, also; it may be just what someone needs at this moment.
Stay safe and well. Until next time...
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