Much of the things that cause our stress are from abrupt adjustments on our daily functioning. While this might seem easy for others, this is because there are a lot of factors that cause us to react in different ways, such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, shallow breathing, upsetting thoughts of helplessness, anxiety, apathy, anger, poor judgement, exhaustion, etc.
I am no exception.
It was hard to deal with life today especially when it feels like I’m struggling alone, because I can’t be with my support system, other than my family. There were days I keep the smile on my face only to hold back the tears I cry at the end of the day. My emotions might have been a lot different from the normal days, but I was able to acknowledge that they’re all valid.
Though stress may come and go, all we could do is learn how to deal and manage it. The sadness caused by my anxieties allowed me to see that something’s not right and that something should be done for me to adapt better.
For past four months, I learned some routines that help me go through every day. Here are some tips we can practice:
Check how we perceive stressful events.
Not knowing when this pandemic will end kept me stressed and worried even when all of it is out my control. It determined how I reacted every time I think of it. It is important to remember that even when the situation isn’t what I expected to be and is beyond my control, it’s an opportunity to rise above it, to show how capable I am of overcoming it, just like what I’ve done with the past challenges.
Start practicing “how to breathe”.
While this is something we are unaware of doing, to breathe voluntarily by inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth is a good relaxation technique that helps calm us down. This helped me a lot up to the kind of thoughts I had. It reminded me that every breath signifies me still being alive, which means there’s still hope for everything to be okay soon.
Have a healthy diet and put make time for exercise.
I motivated myself to eat more fruits and other healthy snacks and found a workout routine that suits my physical condition. This improved my mood because it made me feel active and productive for the day. It also reduced my anxiety because I felt healthier knowing it lessened any risks for diseases.
Reach out to your social support system.
Communicating with our family, friends and significant other will help reduce the effects of stress. I got to talk with my friends about plans to be excited about, checked on each other’s condition and shared silly quarantine stories. There were also new things we did at home that we never thought was fun. Plus, it’s a bonus that I could also help them the other way around through sharing the support and love.
Do the things that make life worthwhile.
Because I had so much time for myself now, I made use of it by revisiting good memories with my family and friends, by looking back on all the pictures we had since childhood. I also got to listen to my favorite albums that I loved to sing along to; started writing more in my journal; did a room makeover with my sister; and finally checked the list of books I’ve been meaning to read and other hobbies that kept my mind engaged.
To know that I am not alone in this is uplifting, but to realize that I am loved with a love that is immeasurable reminds me why I should always go for the goal.
When we help ourselves to be better, we are setting an example that even when life isn’t always easy, His love will always help us overcome it all. God is calling us to a healthier life, especially during these times. A healthier life that is free of stress that can stray us away from His ultimate plan.
Today, let us start recognizing what causes our anxieties, and learn to recuperate in a right and healthy way.
