If you have been worrying about the COVID-19 pandemic, and your anxiety has been building during quarantine, these 10 activities are things you can do to feel better about the situation. With the media constantly informing us about the next tragedy associated with the virus, it can feel hard to escape the sad situation the world seems trapped in. Of course, being encouraged to stay inside all day definitely doesn’t help, and makes the w0rld appear even smaller.
The number one way to calm your nerves is to exercise. Whether you are a work out person or not, simply going for a walk down the street can release your anxious thoughts from your mind and provide some emotional relief. If you have an anxious personality or anxiety is a daily occurrence for you, then it is suggested that you partake in a daily exercise to distract yourself from these thoughts. Along with this, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America explains, “Exercise is also considered vital for maintaining mental fitness, and it can reduce stress. Studies show that it is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and at enhancing overall cognitive function. This can be especially helpful when stress has depleted your energy or ability to concentrate.”
Keeping a journal is a good way to confront your anxiety and is one of the best things to do to feel better. By writing a daily entry regarding what you are feeling, including both what is making you happy and what you are worried about, you can more easily recognize your emotions and why you are feeling them. This might help you find the overarching source of your anxiety and allow you to come up with solutions as to how to stop anxious thoughts from overwhelming you.
The ultimate and easiest way to rid of anxious thoughts is to distract your mind by investing your attention in a good book or television show. Whichever activity makes your thoughts melt away and your focus center in on what is in front of you is the key to finding an ideal anxiety distraction. Try doing something non-stressful and easygoing to ensure you do not accelerate your anxiety any further.
Whether it be to distract yourself or because your favorite hobby provides stress relief, doing something you love can typically remind you of the positive aspects of your life. This will keep your mind off of your anxieties and let you see the simple joys of everyday life.
While you might think cooking is a weird activity to fall upon this list, cooking is actually beneficial to those with anxiety in more than one way. Firstly, cooking can be a fun activity in which the anxiety-ridden individual can take part in the distracting, and delicious hobby. Secondly, however, whatever you feed your body is how your body reacts. Cooking your own food may give you more of an initiative to eat healthy snacks and meals.
This one might be hard for coffee connoisseurs to face, but caffeine might actually worsen your anxiety and mood. Healthline Magazine explains, “A 2008 study showed how caffeine increases alertness by blocking a brain chemical (adenosine) that makes you feel tired, while at the same time triggering the release of adrenalin that’s known to increase energy. If the amount of caffeine is high enough, these effects are stronger, resulting in caffeine-induced anxiety. While there are mental benefits to caffeine, high doses are known to induce anxiety symptoms, and people with panic disorder and social anxiety disorder are especially sensitive.” This means that if you are having bouts of anxiety, you should avoid large amounts of caffeine, or simply take a break from caffeine altogether.
Sleep is another easy and important mechanism to calm yourself on this list of things you can do to feel better. The average person should be getting about 8 to 12 hours of sleep nightly and staying up longer than this may cause heightened emotions that lead to worsened anxiety. If you are a night owl, try to head to bed a little bit earlier, and if you are a morning person, set the clock back an hour and let yourself sleep in.
Amidst this time, there has weirdly been a circulation of cinema regarding pandemics and end of the world happenings, however, be sure to avoid pop culture similar to this as much as possible. By watching something with themes such as world destruction and pandemonium, you may get triggered at the content and find yourself worrying more. Instead, distract yourself from the issue at hand, and only watch movies you are genuinely interested in.
If you do not have a pet, this might not fall on your list of things you can do to feel better, however, going to an animal shelter or fostering puppies for a week may be an alternative option for you. Emotionally support animals exist for a reason, and while you might not need to take your dog or cat with you everywhere I go, spending time with your furry friend is a cute and convenient way to take your mind off things and destress.
Art is a therapeutic way to distract yourself and ease your mind of any worries. By working on an art project, your creative ideas and inspiration have a place to roam anxiety free. Similarly to keeping a journal, those who prefer doodling or drawing may take an interest in keeping a daily sketchbook instead. Drawing a rendition of your mood for the day may give you a way to express your anxiety and let your worries go.
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