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Mental Health Tips To Cope With COVID Anxiety

cope with covid anxiety

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. It’s normal to feel anxious and worried during a national crisis as we don’t know how long it will last and how it will impact our lives. This feeling can be quite stressful and overwhelming. One major reason could be social distancing, although necessary, it can make us feel isolated, lonely and may increase stress. To add to it, the COVID anxiety, wherein we’re in constant fear of contracting the virus. These factors can take a huge toll on our mental health. 

This stress can affect our health in different ways: 

  • Disturbed sleep
  • Eating a lot or eating very less
  • Excess use of tobacco or pan masala
  • Drinking alcohol more than usual to avoid stress and boredom
  • Feeling loneliness and helpless

Tips To Cope With COVID Anxiety 

While there might not be a lot you can do to control the situation, here are a few things you can do to preserve your mental health and cope with COVID anxiety. 

  1. Try to control the things which are in your hand, rather than focusing on the things which you can’t control – Do not think about the shortage of oxygen cylinders or medication. Think how you can make yourself more healthy so you don’t need an oxygen cylinder and medication to recover. Eat healthy, exercise regularly and work on improving your sleep.
  2. Structure your day and make time for yourself. It’s important to make time for activities you enjoy. Do what you like most like painting, cooking, playing games or an instrument, and so on.
  3. Make a list of your worries, write it down on a paper and try to write down possible solutions for each worry. It can facilitate problem solving and reduce anxiety.
  4. Limit checking updates on COVID-19 in news and social media as the more your mind focuses on worst case scenarios, the more anxious you will feel.
  5. Try to connect through a video call with your friends and family members who you have not visited for a long time. It will work as a tonic for your mental health.
  6. Practice Mindfulness, which in essence, translates to living in the present moment with acceptance and without judgment
  7. Try breathing in lavender or scented candles. The smell of lavender, sandalwood, orange, jasmine and rose have calming properties and it stimulates the part of the brain which controls our mood.

If COVID anxiety is getting the better of you, seek out professional help. You don’t have to do this alone. If you are experiencing an escalation of anxiety, ask knowledgeable people who can assist you through this difficult time. Most importantly, don’t lose hope. Things always get better with time! 

We hope this article helps you. Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more on managing COVID-19, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play. To get these tips and support directly from your GOQii Coach, subscribe to personalized coaching now: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu 

Stay home, stay safe and #BeTheForce 

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All About Digital Detox: Part 2

digital detoxYou might have understood the basic idea about digital detox in the first part of this article. In this part, I’ll be sharing how you can actually digitally detox! I promise, after reading this, you will definitely want to give it a try. 

What Happens To Your Brain and Body During a Detox? 

Here are some good things that you can expect during a digital detox:

  • Spending some time away from your phone that regularly beeps can result in a calmer state of mind.
  • Staying away from social media can make you more productive and your memory power may improve.
  • Your mind will be more clear & focused.
  • You may have lower anxiety & stress levels.
  • Growing awareness about how you use technology.
  • Improvement in sleep quality.
  • Better posture & reduced tech neck.
  • Improved social life as you connect with people in reality & eye contact will become a thing again.
  • Better engagement with yourself and the world around you.

Challenges You Might Face 

  • It will be uncomfortable at first as you might feel alone or disconnected.
  • The thought of quitting the digital detox will fill your mind recurrently, but it will lessen over time.
  • You may feel you are missing out even if there is nothing to miss out on other than pictures & gossips.
  • Boredom will try to deter you as you might feel uncomfortable without having something to do.
  • You might feel unproductive at first.
  • Other people may directly or indirectly pressure you to quit.
  • You might find it challenging to go out without a phone.

Easy Steps To Do A Digital Detox 

For many of us, quitting gadgets completely is not at all possible. But here are few practical and easy ways you can try to have a taste of digital detox.

  1. First step in your digital detox journey can be observation of your daily digital involvement time. This will reinforce you to make a change and unplug.
  2. Clean your device. Delete old apps and social media accounts.
  3. Have a device free morning. Do not check your phone as soon as you wake up. In fact, keep your phone away during bedtime.
  4. Choose a day in a week when you will stay away from gadgets. On this day, focus more on health, meditation and spend time with family.
  5. Turn off notifications as they distract you constantly. Set a time for checking messages, emails and notifications.
  6. While reading, eating and doing some work when you need to focus, keep your phone out of sight in another room, or turn it on silent or vibration mode.

How Do You Ensure Digital Detox Success? 

  • Consider doing it during vacation or start with weekends if you have a technology focused job.
  • Commit loudly: Let your family & friends know that you will not be available on social media during a particular period of time & ask for their help & support.
  • Fill the void: Plan, in advance, some ways to stay distracted and some other activities/ hobbies in hand to keep you busy.
  • To reduce temptation and easy access, delete social media apps from your phone.
  • Keep a track of your progress and write down your thoughts & experiences.
  • Plan for real meetings with your friends and family or simply go for a walk when you feel most tempted to use your gadgets.

Going device free might be a bit uncomfortable at first, but if you can just start doing it, you will find it much more rewarding. So try this detox over the coming weekend and share your feedback in the comments below! 

For more tips on improving mental health, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play. To get these tips directly from your GOQii Coach, sign up for our personal coaching service now: https://goqiiapp.page.link/wssu

#BeTheForce 

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