Mastering Wellness Throughout The Pandemic
Wellness has never been an easy thing to maintain. As humans our enormous capacity to think and feel is both a blessing and a curse. Often dissatisfied with life, our pursuit of happiness seems a never-ending journey with many a crisis along the way. Needless to say, the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020, now stretching into 2021 too, has had a severe impact on people’s sense of wellbeing around the globe. Dramatic changes in routine, isolation from others, lack of physical contact and constant exposure to anxiety-inducing negative media all play their part in causing this pandemic to have triggered a significant rise in the numbers of people experiencing mental health issues.
While the outside world can seem beyond our control under the grip of this virus, there are many ways in which we can combat the uncertainty and stress that this causes. By making conscious choices about how we respond to this situation and continuing to go about our daily lives as best we can, we can implement a variety of positive strategies that will help us cope.
Begin by focusing on the parts of your life that you can control, or that you do still have access to. Let’s start at the break of day, by establishing a routine that will ensure a positive initial mood that will influence the rest of your day. Psychology writer Anne Bromwich at Write My X and 1day2write suggests “Waking up to a natural light source and taking fifteen minutes to evaluate what you have that you are grateful for (for example, sunshine if it is sunny or a roof over your head if it is not!) before engaging with any form of media that could set a negative tone will encourage a positive outlook from the get-go.”
If Coronavirus regulations mean that you are now required to work from home, your next step as you set about your work is to create a routine that separates your restful home space from your focused office space. Schedule your time to allow yourself breaks to top up your wellbeing levels without slipping into bad habits. Stress makes us crave sugary snacks which are all too available when your new desk is within arm’s length of your fridge, so plan to take a timed lunch break to de-connect and treat your mind and body to something nutritious instead. If you can, it is also an excellent idea to fit short walks into your day as exposure to nature is one of the most soothing tools we have. Not only will getting outside keep you fit and healthy physically, but the vitamin D from the sun and the phytocides released by the plants will boost your happiness and your immune system.
On top of benefitting from consistent routines, antioxidant-rich meals and a natural environment, humans are also very social creatures. Make time to connect with your friends and family virtually through creative use of technology, so that the physical distancing that Covid-19 has enforced does not have to mean complete social isolation. This can be a time used to forge stronger bonds and create positive new traditions that will last for years to come. A top tip from Bradley Chavez, a lifestyle blogger at PhD Kingdom and Britstudent is to have dinner over zoom with your loved ones, creating “an interactive and natural activity for all to participate in, that is both productive and positive, steering conversation away from stressful news topics and towards being present in communicating your sensory experiences.”
And when we then come to the end of what could either be a full and stressful day, or an empty and lonely one, it is important to consider how we treat ourselves before settling in for the night too. Aim to practice a form of calming self-care such as meditation, yoga or dancing to music to help yourself unwind. Then, help yourself get the best night’s sleep that you can by adhering to a regular bedtime and leaving your electronic devices outside the room, creating a dark and cozy retreat.
Though we cannot expect to feel our best every day in times like these, there is much to be said for the simple things we can do for ourselves that will help us keep our heads above water. Good sleep, nutrition, exercise, connection and routine can work wonders in reducing both the physical and mental responses to stress, such as inflammation, sickness and depression. Give yourself the best chance for wellbeing you can by practicing our suggestions, and see how your outlook changes.
A respected consultant in e-learning, Regina Wheeler writes at Assignment Writing Services and Coursework Help where she shares the expertise garnered from her many projects. Regina enjoys delving into the complexities of management, marketing and finances, and also writes for NextCoursework in her spare time.
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