The pandemic has made days very stressful for most of us. Especially, all the lockdowns that have happened throughout the past year, it has definitely turned many happy faces into sad ones.
Statistics have shown that suicide rates have also gone up since the start of the pandemic.
Staying inside for long periods of time can be stressful, but is the stress really all from the pandemic only? Or is it also from our own minds?
I remember reading a quote once, that quote said "we're the prisoners of our own mind", I can't argue with that!
It is always how you react that matters, not just what happens to you.
Anyway, let's dive in to see some useful tips on how we can manage our happiness during the pandemic.
Reading
Sounds boring, doesn't it? But the benefits of reading are extremely high.
Even Some prisons around the world have encouraged prisoners to read, where in return they get to leave prison some weeks earlier- in equivalence to the number of books they read.
Staying inside for long periods of time can feel like you are in prison (at least), so why not grab a book and read? It may change the way you see life, or even help you learn more about something you love.
Here are the many benefits behind reading:
Improves brain connectivity
reduces stress
Lowers blood pressure
Lowers heart rate
Improves knowledge and concentration
Helps you sleep better
Changes your perspective on life
You will at least feel better than staying on your phone all day. That is something positive about it, right?
Exercising
Sitting all day isn't really healthy for us. Especially during lockdowns, our physical activity can be limited in many ways. This shouldn't be too much of a problem, since there is plenty of exercises you can do right from your own home. You can find all sorts of home workouts online. Pinterest and YouTube are some great platforms that promote lots of exercising programs.
Exercising will not only help you stay in shape but will also reduce stress, lower your risk of catching any disease, keep your immune system strong, and even lower your risk of injury.
E-learning
Living in the digital age, the biggest advantage we have is the internet. With all the social media platforms out there, learning something new is easier than ever compared to decades ago. That is what makes a lockdown easier in 2020, compared to if we didn't have the internet.
Maybe you can learn a new skill that connects to your career or maybe something that helps you with your studies if you are still a student.
Even if you are running a business, e-learning might teach you something that will boost your business growth even during this pandemic.
Video Calling
Very underestimated but a great way to still stay in touch with your friends or family during this pandemic.
Many years ago, there was no such thing as video calling or even free voice calling. You had to pay lots of money just to speak to someone for a few minutes. Now, all we do is just connect to the internet and call someone on Viber, Messenger, WhatsApp, etc. What a relief, huh?
Other than that, video calling is a great way to keep your mind preoccupied over thinking about negative things all the time. You can still have fun being on a call than just sitting around and doing nothing. The pandemic either wise won't last forever so don't worry, you will get back to your normal life soon!
Games
Yes, this time we can't criticize children for being game or Netflix addicts.
Playing games can be beneficial for you; If you don't overdo it of course.
Studies have shown that playing games for some time can have the following benefits:
Can increase brain connectivity to help you think better, and faster.
Reduces stress, since your mind is preoccupied.
Releases dopamine, a hormone associated with happiness.
Increases your problem-solving skills.
Boosts your mood, reducing risks of depression, anxiety, etc.
Not only are games fun but during a pandemic, they can be very fun to play when you can't go out.
Conclusion
Nothing can last forever, not even covid.
The biggest threat to our minds is when we are overloaded with information, or when we constantly think about negative thoughts.
You never know what can happen tomorrow, so we always have to wish for the best and prepare for the worst.
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