“I’m Taking Back Control of My Life during the COVID Era”
The impact that coronavirus has had on the everyday aspects of our lives has been tremendous, and completely uncalled for. We were faced with new realities as the world shifted its route and took us on a journey we were all least expecting. Even through these adversities, we remained resilient as a nation, and if anything, it strengthened us and our values, and taught us more than we already knew about ourselves and what mattered to us most. We can all admit that the year of 2020 changed us in one way or another. Now, the question is, do you like the changes instilled in you?
Without the usual outlets for fun and de-stress available, as we had before the month of March of 2020, we all had to discover creative ways for coping and solving the challenges that we were facing. Though restaurants created outdoor dining alternatives, museums unlocked their doors, and schools reopened with blended or remote learning options, still, not everything is back to normal- and this is our current reality. Remarkably, it’s not all too bad because we still have one another.
In a digital world, where we don’t have to be physically present to be available, these trying times reconnected us with old friends, brought us closer to the loved ones we already had, revived our childhood love for being outdoors, biking, and hiking, and gave us time to dig deeper into ourselves as we uncovered new and old things about ourselves. Most importantly, it helped us realize that we are never truly alone, because even if we live by ourselves, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more have kept us all connected.
With the season of Fall bestowing upon us, there still remain many things that we can do together or on our own to keep ourselves busy, having fun, to help us de-stress.
1. Meditate
“Meditation is a mental exercise that trains attention and awareness. Its purpose is often to curb reactivity to one’s negative thoughts and feelings,” according to Psychology Today. Aside from your physical health, your mental health matters too. The best part about meditation isn’t only its effects, but also that it’s flexible, meaning you can meditate anywhere you feel comfortable and safe. Research shows over and over again that meditation is closely related with improvements in various health conditions, including PTSD and depression.
2. Explore Nature
You don’t have to go on a rigorous hike to explore nature. Whether it’s a walk by a lake, or up a mountain side to oversee a beautiful panoramic view of the scenic bristling trees and bodies of waters below, nature relieves stress in simple ways. Our bodies release less cortisol and more natural endorphins when we explore the great outdoors. This results in positive thoughts, stress relief, and calmness from within.
3. Fun fall activities
It’s the season for apple and pumpkin picking, petting zoos, arts and crafts, Halloween, fresh apple cider, and so much more! Due to COVID safety regulations and capacity limitations, make sure to call ahead of time to reserve your spot for any of these activities! These are events you can enjoy on your own or with family and friends. They will also give you a sense of mindfulness. Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-to-moment awareness of where you are and what you’re doing according to Mayo Clinic. What does this mean for you? In that moment as you’re having fun, you won’t feel the pressure of all the things that have been weighing you down. You deserve to have a great time, and who knows? Maybe this is exactly what you need to reset!
Some other things that we’d love to recommend and know that will work for you is finding balance, taking advantage of online classes, staying active, spending time with loved ones, being productive and discovering new hobbies! Remember, there is always good in the bad, and if you instill that mindset, the positive aspects in your life will stand out more as they will shine brighter. We want you to know that your mental health is the key to living an internally and externally successful life. And above all, we love the saying, “the world is your oyster,” because it is true. You are in control, no matter what you may feel sometimes.
If by any chance you feel that the stress of the current situation is getting to you, consider reaching out to us, we’re providing teletherapy and online counseling and we are ready to start helping you.