Staying Calm And Centered In Times Of Corona Panic: Some Simple and Fun At Home Activities That You Can Get Started Today
As COVID-19 is making its way into major cities and small suburbs across the nation, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to remain calm and not panic.
We have been told by authorities to stay in our homes in order to prevent spread, but that does NOT mean we should go crazy
inside and only focus our attention on what is happening with the outside world.
Here are some tips to help you maintain a calmer and more realistic outlook, rather than buying into the panic frenzy.
(Something I’ve been doing for many years now) Try to limit how much news you watch, especially some of the overhyped reporting that only propagates fear and anxiety. First and foremost, get updates and facts from reliable sources, and then focus your attention elsewhere.
You can avoid contact with other people and wash your hands more carefully, but your ability to remain calm comes from within. That means taking the necessary steps to reduce your stress and
anxiety and promote calmness while the virus runs its course.
Here are three great ways to help you stay calm and centered in times of COVID-19 panic!
Meditation & Mindfulness
So, you’re anxious and stressed as a result of the rapid spread of Coronavirus. If you’ve never attempted meditation or any mindfulness techniques in the past, this is the perfect time to try them out and get some practice under your belt.
According to the Mayo Clinic, meditation can play a huge role in helping you maintain your mental and emotional health, including
benefiting aspects of your physical health. Here’s just some of what meditation can do for you.
- More positive outlook on life
- Increased feelings of calmness
- Greater self-awareness
- Reduced levels of anxiety and stress
- Improved focus
The best part is: There are many different types of meditation, so you can choose the type that works best for you.
If you’re able to focus for long periods of time, you might want to try out guided meditations or visualization techniques.
When you’re looking to stay more active while you’re quarantined, you can give yoga or Pilates a go!
Finding a Creative Outlet
This is a great time to try out some new (or old) creative hobbies. When you’re focused on building or creating something new, you’re reducing the amount of focus on the negativity surrounding you.
That means creativity is a solid way of helping you relax.
A creative outlet can be almost anything. Here are a few ideas you might want to try out (if you have the supplies in your home).
- Painting, coloring, or drawing
- Singing or playing musical instruments
- Then dance around to the music!
- Taking photos or videos of things you enjoy
- Building something with things lying around the house
- Writing
- Puzzles
- Reading something and then writing an essay about it (yes, remember English 101 class?). This is a great way to take your mind off the world’s troubles.
The goal (obviously) is to find an activity or task that requires an intense amount of focus and makes you happy. You won’t even notice that you spent the last hour drawing your favorite cartoon character
Giving Back & Helping Others
It’s completely natural to be fearful of the unknown but giving back to others can help you to tackle this fear once and for all. When you’re giving back to the community or helping those in need, you’ll be
working to spread compassion and happiness rather than fear and anxiety.
With so many people sick or self-quarantined, most people aren’t permitted to leave their homes. However, these individuals
do still have needs that they now can’t meet on their own.
As long as you’re keeping your distance and not exposing anyone to the virus, you can deliver food and groceries or do things like their yard work. It’ll make you feel good about yourself while also helping those who need it! So, call your neighbors, post something on your
Facebook to let those in need know you are available and how to get in contact.
Final Thoughts
Perhaps you can’t do anything yourself when it comes to curing or stopping the spread of COVID-19, but there are things you can do to reduce your panic and invoke a sense of calmness.
By taking advantage of mindfulness, looking for a creative outlet, and even giving back to those who need it, you’ll be able to stay calm and centered, even now!
If you have some favorite activities that help you and your family “keep their cool,” tell us about them in the comments!
Feel free to share this with others you love! Or even those you just like!