The coronavirus pandemic has brought many difficult things into our lives, and one of those things is anxiety. Anxiety was already a significant issue in our society before the pandemic came along, but now, even people who had never experienced high anxiety are feeling it. This is not an abnormal reaction to the situation we are in – cooped up at home with a scary situation raging around us, it’s bound to cause us some stress and anxiety.
No matter the cause of your anxiety, though, nobody should have to live with acute symptoms. Anxiety, when left untreated, can become very debilitating, leaving you unable to complete your basic tasks or engage socially with your loved ones. There are always ways to help your symptoms, and in this blog we will show you just four simple ways to do this.
Let’s get started: here are 4 ways to reduce your pandemic anxiety in 2021.
1. Make A Plan For The Year
One way to alleviate your anxiety would be to start making plans. Making plans for the future can sometimes become toxic and obsessive, which isn’t a healthy path to go down – but when done constructively, you can help calm yourself down with this method.
Firstly, think about what’s possible to achieve this year. You might not be able to travel the world, visit all your loved ones or throw a huge party at your house, but there are plenty of things you can achieve even within the parameters of the pandemic. Make a short list of things you’d like to achieve; these could be super simple things like learning to cook a certain dish, improving your fitness, starting to learn a language or updating your home.
Next, it’s time to start paving the way to achieving those things. You can’t snap your fingers and do them all today, but you can start putting building blocks in place. For example, you could research new language tutors in your area, or start decluttering ready for some DIY.
By making a 2021 year plan, you can feel more in control of your situation. Instead of leaning into the limitations of the pandemic, you are leaning into the possibilities.
2. Take Daily Walks – Even If You Don’t Feel Like It
It can be very difficult to get motivated during the coronavirus pandemic. When every day feels like a repeat of the last, it is easy to think, ‘What’s the point in trying?’ This can lead to a cyclical state of anxiety when you feel powerless in your own life.
It’s time to combat this feeling. One totally free, easy way of doing so is by taking walks outside every day. You might feel like pulling the quilt over your head and ignoring the world, but this will only make your anxious state worse. Get outside, explore new parts of your city or town, with good music in your headphones – it’s a guarantee that you’ll feel better for it.
3. Try Holistic Practices
Many people turn to holistic practices to fight their anxiety symptoms. These practices include:
- Meditation – Meditation is a hundreds-of-years-old practice that has its roots in Buddhism. It helps you to harness the power of quieting your thoughts, finding peace and balance in stillness. It is shown to be a fantastic way of battling anxiety – but it does take time and practice to feel the effects.
- Yoga – Yoga is also rooted in Indian culture, and is not only fantastic for body conditioning and flexibility, but also for your anxiety. Yoga requires calm contemplation and concentration, helping you to feel less frenzied, even just for a few minutes per day.
- Holistic medications – Holistic medications, such as CBD or delta 8 hemp, are used by people around the world to calm anxiety. Always check with a medical professional before you self-administer.
When used correctly, holistic practices can help you get back to your core self, allowing you to shed the worries of life even if only temporarily.
Speak To A Therapist Or Counsellor
Lastly, a great way to reduce your pandemic anxiety in 2021 is to speak with a therapist or counsellor. Therapy is something that all people could benefit from, even if you don’t think you are the “type of person” who needs it. By talking through your anxiety with a professional, you will be provided with great tools for dealing with the symptoms on a daily basis. Plus, you can discover the root of your anxiety, which is always helpful.
Overall, combatting anxiety can be tricky, but with these four steps, you’ll be on your way to a calmer version of yourself in 2021!
*collaborative post