The nation’s focus is currently on advising us to stay at home to ultimately save lives. But what about our own mental health in this worldwide pandemic?
If you have been seeking some calmer moments or perhaps want to develop a self-care practice during lockdown here are some tips on what to focus on:
Focus on You
For most of us, our usual routines have been turned upside with no idea when we will return to normal. During uncertain times, anxiety is likely to peak as our minds love certainty.
Focus on what you can control: your thoughts, feelings and actions. You can let go of the rest.
Start selecting your thoughts like you would your clothes and see how much better you feel.
1. Develop a Meditation Practice
Actively meditating every day is scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and with the world going through a pandemic we could all do with a little more zen.
Try some rhythmic breathing for ultimate relaxation. When we are anxious our bodies are in a permanent state of “fight or flight”. This meditation activates your “rest and digest” system and calms your whole body down.
2. Plan Each Day
Joe Wicks is providing structure to millions across the UK with his 9 am PE classes but maybe for you, every day is starting to feel like a permanent Sunday. This may sound like a delicious dream but it might not be ideal for our mental health.
For us to maintain good mental health our minds require a bit of structure and routine.
To create some certainty and control for yourself think about what you would like to do each day and plan your time as you would usually.
Bonus tip: Take up a new hobby or tackle your weedy garden so you can watch yourself grow whilst in quarantine. The mind loves to see progress.
3. Be Present
“People don’t realize that now is all there ever is; there is no past or future except as memory or anticipation in your mind.” Eckhart Tolle.
For us to be able to focus on what we can control, craft our meditation skills and get the most out of days we ideally need to become present.
Present to this moment. What is happening right here, right now for this is all we have.
Starting a mindfulness practice is a great way to train your mind to come back to the present moment.
When we are present life feels a little easier which makes keeping up with our self-care practice less of a chore.
5. Dream about the future
Now that you have extra time of your hands, you can think about what you would like your future to look like.
How much of your life would you like to bring forward with you into the next chapter?
Perhaps there are old habits you would like to change, new hobbies you would like to start and far off destinations you are yet to travel to.
This is the time to get creative and dream about what you would want.
Go a step further and take one small step towards making this a reality.
COVID-19 is a large reminder that we are actually not in control of life as much as we sometimes might like to think.
Self-care is a great way for us to focus on what we can control and maintain our mental health in these uncertain times.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, worried about the future or your own mental health then get in touch to book a session to work on managing your anxiety at: zoe@thetreeoflifecoaching.com