We live in the world which is full of changes and challenges. It often creates anxiety and panic amongst all of us and at times we find ourselves dwelling over things that make us quite unhappy, restless and exhausted. In such situations, often we need to think logically and focus our attention on things that are helpful and withdraw the attention from the aspects that are not useful. We sometimes need to train our mind to think logically, listen to it whenever needed and give reassurance. A worried mind is a mind which is asking for help. In such situation, giving it right strategies will help keep the calm and soothe the nerves. As the coronavirus is going around, it is natural to feel restless and anxious. Here are a few strategies that I would like to share based on my personal experience that may help provide insight and may provide some relief.
1. Get your facts straight.
Know what is going on and do your research. Trust only authorised, official, trusted and relevant resources. We live in an era where everyone can broadcast anything under the sun with the use of the electronic media hence it is important that we check the source of the information and use our insight and intellect to decide what can be trusted and what cannot be. This will help prevent the anxiety which is often the result of incomplete information. Knowing the exact facts and figures always help take appropriate action.
2. Think rationally.
When there is a crisis, it is normal to feel panicked and act impulsively but in reality it is also the crucial time to think rationally and take necessary steps. Think using rational mind and analyse the situation by focusing on the solution rather than the problem. Often when we are in a state of panic, we act without thinking and that can put us in a problem that was not even present before. We unknowingly put ourselves in dangers by panicking. It is paramount that we train our mind to stay calm and think in the right perspective.
3. Limit your use of social media and news.
The boom of social media has numerous benefits. It connects us to the faraway people in an instance and also facilitates spreading the news at a click of a button. Sometimes, the information overload can be damaging for people especially if we they are prone to anxiety and have tendency to panic. Unlimited social media updates and live news coverage may create panic. Limiting them to only once or twice a day will help keeping the nerves calm. By checking only once or twice a day, we are still aware of the situation yet we are using the rest of the time to focus on the solution.
4. Work on prevention. Be prepared.
Focus on prevention and what actions you may need to take. Know your resources and start making a plan. Once you have clearly laid out plan, start taking action and use preventive measures as soon as possible but do not panic. Equip yourself with all that you need and keep the mind positive.
5. Write down your worries and work on it.
If the worries bother you a lot, it is good idea to write it all down. Once it is on a paper, it is easier to see it in the right perspective and see what you can control, what you can avoid and what you cannot do anything about. Once you know what is in your hand start focusing on it and take action. This will help clear your mind and may help make better plan.
6. Build immunity.
If you are worried about getting any illness, it is best to start working on immunity. Eat healthy, nutritious and balanced food, exercise regularly, take enough rest and recover, work on the good quality and quantity of sleep, take time out for relaxation and recreation and work on emotional health. Managing stress will support the immune system which will help fighting any illness.
7. Meditate, pray and practice relaxation.
Taking care of mental and emotional health is crucial in the event of crisis. Practicing deep breathing is the best way to instantly calm the mind. In the event of stress, taking slow, deep breath is beneficial to restore the balance and soothe the nerves. Meditation is another excellent tool for relaxation and there are enough researches that show that meditation has positive effect on mind and body and that it can help relieve stress thus helps in building good health and wellbeing. Prayer can also help to keep positive mindset in the event of crisis and give mental strength and hope and help in relieving feelings of despair and insecurity.
8. Keep yourself busy.
One of the best ways to deal with stress is to focus on something that we truly enjoy. Do something that takes the mind off worry and keep busy physically as well as mentally. Busy mind is a happy mind. Often the amount of time we can spend on worrying can be unbelievably high hence keeping busy can make good use of time and energy.
9. Keep in touch with your loved ones and check on them.
In the event of stress, connecting with our loved ones and sharing our worries can help relieve the stress as they provide support, care and reassurance in the times of crisis. Family help us through thick and thin and family is always the pillar of strength for our survival and success in life. Keeping in touch with the family members can help in the event of crisis especially if you live faraway. The loving and caring relations that we make in our lives adds to the quality of life and provides emotional support during tough time. Friends can also provide the same support so always be connected even if it means connecting through social media.
We all go through various crises in our lives and in those very moments we often find strength, develop better outlook and see right perspective in life hence do not get intimidated by what goes on in life and always have positive outlook and work on making the best out of the situation and use your intuition, intellect and judgement to overcome. There are always uncertainty in life and nobody can predict what happens tomorrow but we can live today more mindfully and use our present moment in the best possible way. Hope this article gives some insight and much needed relief and empowers everyone to take right action.
Disclaimer: Please note that this article is based on my personal experience and observation to provide insight and should not be taken as professional advice and it should be used only for reference. If you suffer from any illness, please take medical advice and follow the guidelines provided by healthcare professional.
Parul Rana 