Social distancing, frequent hand washing, and proper cough etiquette are measures that help protect us against Covid 19 and prevent it from spreading. But what do we do against the stress and anxiety it has brought into our life? One couldn’t help but worry as the quarantine period stretches on and the future still uncertain. While we do acknowledge that it’s ok not to be ok in these trying times, we also realize that it won’t do any good to let our worries get us down. Here are some wellness reminders that may help keep our spirits up.
Don’t keep things bottled-up. Acknowledge and release your fears, stress, or anxiety. It is quite common for people to feel afraid of the coronavirus or be worried about their post Covid 19 life. You are not alone in this situation and it’s alright to feel bad about it. However, it’s not good to dwell on these negative feelings nor to keep it bottled up. What you can do is to find people who can support you when you are feeling down. Sometimes talking to a friend and just airing out your fears and concerns is enough to relieve you of your burden. You also have the option to talk to a counselor or medical professionals who can help allay your fears.
Eat, sleep and get going. Fear of getting infected with the virus causes anxiety. Doing something to keep you and your family healthy can help ease these anxieties. Serve healthy meals and get enough sleep to boost your immune system. Exercise activities like yoga can also help beat the stress while caring for your health.
Bond, Laugh and Play. To keep your mind off the stress and things that are beyond your control, you can focus on things that are more productive. For instance working on tasks that you’ve always put off like cleaning the garage or organizing your closet. And since the whole family is in the house you can do these tasks together as a bonding activity. You can also think of fun leisure activities that you can do with your kids like gardening, crafting, cooking, or simply enjoy a movie on the couch. Since these are unusual times your kids are sure to remember these fun bonding memories amidst the quarantine when they grow old.
Pray, Reflect and Be Grateful. Our wellness reminders include activities for spiritual well-being. Prayer is a powerful tool during difficult times. It gives us hope and strengthens us as we lift our burdens to the almighty. Aside from prayers, being grateful for the blessings that we have, no matter how small, helps uplift our spirits.
It has been almost a month since the Enhanced Community Quarantine was implemented in Metro Manila and hopefully it will be lifted in the next two weeks or so. In the meantime these wellness reminders may help with the social and emotional health of our family. We are all in this together so let us do our best to stay positive and keep the faith that this pandemic will soon be over.
