- Tuesday, April 23, 2024
By: Admin Super
Have you taken a look at the news lately? Both the local and international news is pretty pressing. On one hand, we have a global pandemic that keeps ravaging countries around the world, and even in the places where the first wave seems to have passed, the authorities remain cautious, preparing for a second one. On the other, we have a rising wave of aggression sweeping across the globe, with America’s protests, Canada’s recent mass shooting, and armed conflicts flaring up in many other parts of the world.
In these trying times, stress is hard to keep at bay. But it should be – chronic stress doesn’t only harm our health but it weakens the immune system, too, exposing us to the risk of being infected. So, here are a few tips on how you can reduce your everyday stress even while stuck at home on lockdown.
While you may feel the urge to constantly stay tuned to the news, both online and on TV, resist this urge. It’s not necessarily the content itself that you should avoid – after all, staying informed could be vital during a public health emergency – but the way they are presented. The tone of the news can be panicky and scary at times, which can increase the overall level of stress and anxiety in the viewer.
Also, reduce your social media usage and at least snooze (or even block) anyone sharing unnecessarily alarmist and fake news about the current situation.
Uncertainty is not something human minds like. Routines are essential because they convey a sense of normality and control over our lives. Thus, trying to maintain a daily routine is important to reduce the level of stress you’re exposed to these days.
Set your alarm clock to wake you up in the morning. Have a list of the tasks you want to accomplish each day, and go through them one by one. Have your meals at about the same time each day. Go to bed at the right time, and sleep enough – lost sleep will also contribute to your stress and anxiety.
Finally, one thing that’s important to do even without its effectiveness against stress: exercise. When spending too much time at home, especially in a stressful time like this, you may feel the urge to overeat – this is one of the side effects of stress. Aside from potentially adding inches to your waistline, it will give you one more thing to worry about.
So, maintaining a daily exercise routine is important during these stressful times. It will not only chase the extra inches away, and help you sleep better, but also helps your brain increase the production of endorphins (the feel-good hormone) that counter cortisol (the stress hormone) in your system, thus helping you reduce your anxiety and tension.
And don’t forget to keep in touch with your friends and family. A Zoom call or a phone conversation, even a few instant messages exchanged with a loved one can help quickly relieve stress by reminding you that you’re not in this alone.
