We are living in highly stressful times right now. The Coronavirus is continuing to spread throughout the world and more people are dying from it every single day. Most of the states have shelter-in-place orders in effect, which is wreaking havoc on the U.S. economy. And the unemployment rate in the U.S. is soaring towards Depression era numbers.
So Many Reasons to Be Stressed
Many of the unemployed are stressed and worried about economic concerns, asking questions, such as:
- Where will my next paycheck come from?
- When will people be able to return to work?
- Will government programs provide enough support for us to get through this difficult time?
- What will happen if I can’t pay my rent or mortgage? Or will this crisis drain my savings?
Those that are lucky enough to still be employed and able to work from home, may be concerned about how long it will last. Will they be the next to be furloughed or laid off, joining the ranks of the unemployed?
And many of the people still employed, going to work every day outside the home are likely dealing with high levels of stress too. Many are working on the front lines to combat this epidemic. They are under enormous amounts of stress risking their lives every day to help others in need. Plus, the lack of available personal protective equipment (PPE), the shortage of hospital equipment needed, and the overwhelming number of infected people only makes things worse, causing increased levels of stress.
The bottom line: Life is scary right now! We have no idea when things will start to improve and return to normal. And all of this uncertainty can cause a lot of stress and anxiety.
Finding New Ways to Manage Stress
On top of everything else, many of our methods for relieving stress are not available to us right now. You can’t go to the gym to exercise, and you can’t go out and hit up happy hour with coworkers to talk through your troubles over wine. You can’t go out to dinner or get together with friends and family to unwind. And you can’t indulge in spa treatments, get a massage or a manicure/pedicure to pamper yourself.
So, you need to find some new ways to alleviate stress while still staying safe, quarantined away from the general public. Here are some recommendations:
Exercise to Relieve Stress
Just because you can’t go to the gym, doesn’t mean you have to give up exercising altogether. You just need to find alternative ways to exercise, such running or taking a walk outside. Just be careful to avoid crowds and immediately wash your hands upon returning home. Or you could try other types of workouts indoors, such as doing yoga, dancing around the house or lifting weights (if you have some at home).
Use Scents to Create a Calming Environment
Try burning a scented candle or using essential oils to create a calming atmosphere. Some of the most popular soothing scents are:
- Lavender
- Rose
- Bergamot
- Chamomile
- Sandalwood
- Orange Blossom
You can even have some fun mixing and matching scents to create your own unique aromatherapy blend.
Don’t have candles or an aromatherapy diffuser for essential oils on-hand? You can order them online for delivery from companies like Amazon or my favorite brand, Young Living. That way, you can get what you need without ever leaving home.
Try Meditation to Reduce Stress
Meditation is something you can easily do at home to lower stress levels. It can help you to enter a deep state of relaxation and to focus your attention to eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts racing through your mind.
And if you have never meditated before or unsure of what to do, you may want to try a guided meditation. You can find a variety of free guided meditations on YouTube. Or check out my current favorite guided meditation about accepting change by Sarah Blonden below.
Spend Time with Friends and Family Online or Over-the-Phone
Just because you can’t get together in person, doesn’t mean you can’t still relieve some stress by spending time with friends and family. You just have to connect with those quarantined or outside your home via online platforms or over the phone. Try texting pictures daily, connecting via video chat platforms such as FaceTime, or playing online games together. Communicating regularly can help you feel more connected and reduce stress.
Laughter Can Be Good for Your Health
Laughter can help reduce anxiety by signaling your body’s stress response to relax. This calms your muscles and relieves tension. And according to the article Stress relief from laughter? It’s no joke, published by the Mayo Clinic, laughter can help improve your immune system too.
Try watching a TV show or movie that makes you laugh. Check out some new comedians or new comedy specials by comedians you’ve enjoyed in the past. (Netflix usually has a nice selection). Or try sharing some funny jokes and memes with friends and family.
Elemental Mental Health Offers Secure Online Counseling Services to Reduce Stress
It is perfectly natural to be feeling increased levels of stress right now. But it is also really important to find ways to reduce stress. If you need help finding ways to decrease your stress levels, contact Elemental Mental Health to schedule a telemental health appointment or to learn more.