Wellness
9 ways to keep positive during the pandemic
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, it’s hard for even the most optimistic among us to stay positive. Obviously, there are things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak to protect yourself and those around you, but try not to let it consume you.
Instead, focus on the positive so that you have the energy and resolve needed to get through this difficult time.
Here are nine things you can do to stay grounded:
Follow a routine
Follow a routine and stick to it. It can be any routine, a totally new one if you wish, it doesn’t matter. But make sure everyone in your family knows what your routine is. My routine is to go for a walk early in the morning, come home, have breakfast, and log on to our daily all company Zoom call. Later in the afternoon try and get in an indoors gym session of some kind, there are lots to follow on the web at the moment! The key is consistency.
Start your day in a positive way
The way we start our day helps set the right tone for the rest of the day. This can mean different things for different people. It can look like taking a moment to express gratitude, meditating, making your bed, taking a shower, having a facial routine, taking your vitamins, or nourishing yourself with a healthy breakfast. Whatever it may be, find your own version of a perfect morning routine to increase your chances of remaining happier the rest of the day.
Get up early and head straight out, making sure to leave your phone at home. Getting that sunshine first thing in the morning is a good way to start the day with a serious PMA and a healthy dose of vitamin D.
Set yourself boundaries
Take some time out in the day to recharge and wind down. Work emails don’t stop when you leave the office anymore and since the beginning of the pandemic there are more emails than ever, which can mean receiving emails all night and early in the morning. Reading or looking at your phone first thing when you wake up can really determine the type of day you’ll have. Give yourself time to wake up and adjust to the day before getting into those emails. They’ll still be there when you officially start the working day.
Another idea is to block out time in your diary for set tasks each day. Perhaps you set yourself a lunch hour in your diary. Your team will be able to view this and see you’re taking a break, giving you the much needed time to refresh and regroup before the afternoon session. Or place a holder in so you have time to complete key tasks, which may help stop your day becoming one long Zoom call.
Write your ‘To Do List’ at the end of each day
At the end of each day, write a list of things you need to get done the following day. When you’re working from home it can be hard to get motivated, meaning keeping on track can be very difficult. This then leads to added (and unnecessary) stress.
Create a sense of calm
Create different zones in the house. So find the perfect spot for working and a zone to unwind. Fill your space with plants and greenery to bring some of the outside back in again. With the limited time we’re allowed outside at the moment, get creative with the space you do have.
Stay up to date but don’t overwhelm yourself
You could watch 24-hour news channels, listen to dire warnings on the radio, or visit countless websites and be bombarded with the angst of the moment. Instead, choose a single news source and decide how much limited time you’ll spend with it each day. Then stick to your plan.
Have something to look forward to
Whether it’s cooking a nice meal at the weekend or calling your family at the weekend, make sure you have things that will cheer you up booked in ahead of time. This might just be going for a nice walk around your local park or it might be allocating 3 hours to reading on a Sunday afternoon. Whatever it is, make sure you give yourself time to enjoy the small things in life.
Do something new
Take this rare opportunity to do something that you have never had time to do and always wanted to. Learn a new language or a musical instrument maybe, or read those books that have been gathering dust on your shelf for years. Remove yourself from the everyday negative headlines all around us as much as you can.
Meditate
Meditation is beneficial for both the mind and body and is perfect for reducing stress and anxiety. If it’s something you’ve never done before, TechRadar have picked out the best meditation apps at the moment.
