These are very anxious times.
Ever since the beginning of the onslaught of the novel coronavirus pandemic, a lot of things about our normal lives have been called into question. Many of us are no longer free to go out, and we've had to self-isolate inside for a few weeks. Many of us will remain indoors for a long time to come.
But the freedom to leave home isn't the only thing that the pandemic has negatively affected. Travel plans, parties, work, and so many other things have been touched by the sickly hand of coronavirus. The fact that most of our lives seem to have changed under a relatively short while can be a good enough reason to panic, and to have unchecked anxiety.
In order to avoid that, a few pointers have been put together to stop the giant spiral into the abyss of anxiety.
Try To Follow Your Normal Routine
One of the most telling effects of coronavirus (asides the death and illnesses) is the change to routine. If you don't have somewhere to be by 9, you no longer have to wake up by 6. If you don't have to face traffic, you may see no reason to make coffee. If you don't have to go to the gym, a light pre-workout session may seem meaningless to you.
But if you want to keep a semblance of sanity, you cannot let things fall apart. You have to try, as much as you can, to stay true to your pre-quarantine routine. Wake up at the time you used to, eat at the time you used to, and rest at the time you used to. Sticking to your regular routine will keep you active and focused. It will prevent you from spiralling and will make it easier for you to continue with life after the quarantine.
You're Not Stuck Inside
Thinking that you're stuck inside can have adverse effects on your mind. Instead, you should take the time "off" as a period to learn and discover yourself. How do you do this? Easy, learn to do something productive each day. That will give you a sense of hope, achievement and fulfilment. It can be your Launchpad to a better state of mind.
Do Not Obsess Over Coronavirus News
I know. You want to know what's happening in the outside world. But it gets to a point that it starts being too much. If you always have the need to check the statistics of confirmed cases, you may be obsessing unnecessarily. If you also have the need to always check whether ever little headache is a symptom of coronavirus, you may be obsessing too.
While you can keep up with news, obsessing over it would be a terribly bad idea. So you have to make the conscious decision to not.
Take Care Of Your Home And Yourself
There are two things that you have to be careful about during this period. Your home, and yourself. Remember that a chaotic home can lead to a chaotic mind. So keep your house organized, keep it clean, and keep it predictable. You should also take care of yourself as well. If you're working in a home office, try to get ergonomic furniture that will take care of your body. A good example of this is the AlcoveRiser Standing Desk Converters M7MB - 35" from Flexispot. It's a standing desk that will allow you to work while standing up, which will allow your spine to achieve proper posture.
Find Something Special To Do
This is a situation that we will hopefully never experience again. Why not use this time to form a new habit or a new ritual? For example, you could start a diary to record things you're feeling at this moment. Or you could do something else, like deciding to catch up on a series you've always wanted to watch. Or you could even use this time to connect to loved ones. There are so many things you could do, and these activities would no doubt reduce your anxiety levels.
