It’s been officially a year since COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the world and forced most of us to be in full isolation. It not only affected our mental health, but also affected our lives financially. The pandemic caused many businesses to shut down temporarily or even permanently. The overwhelming emotions and stress built up as we struggled to find new jobs or careers or adjust to a new way of life. Even those who still have their pre-COVID jobs might still be struggling with financial issues. For students, some struggle to finish school online. No matter what age you are, we know how hard life is right now and how it can be stressful at times. So we’re here to help give you some tips to deal with your stress. Keep on reading to find out more!
1: Put the Phone Down Yes, we said it. It’s easier said than done, but it will make a difference. Nowadays, we all use our cellphones. We’re all guilty of overusing it. However, let us ask you this. When was the last time you did something that didn’t include your phone? Work and school work don’t count because those are mandatory. When you come home or have free time, most often, we go on our phones for entertainment. Put the phone down for an hour and see how different it is offline. It will be difficult, but at least you can find some new hobby or activity to do in the meantime!
2: Play Your Favorite Tunes We usually do this on a daily basis without even realizing it sometimes. However, it does help! In a 2011 study, Harvard Medical School explains how music functions throughout the brain, mind, and mood. Music does help calm your mind and make you feel relaxed. They did a study with the “Mozart Effect”, which was where they tested three groups of college students and made one group listen to a Mozart piano sonata while taking a test, another listened to a song by Philip Glass, and the other group took the test in silence. The group that was listening to the Mozart piano sonata did better on the tests than the other two groups. It doesn't have to be classical music though. You can feel relaxed with your favorite tunes and it will have the same effect! So blast that song, sing along, and release some stress.
3: Go Outside Don’t freak out! We’re not encouraging you to go outside to public places during the pandemic. What we’re suggesting is that you should go outside to your backyard or sit on your front porch. Sitting, relaxing, and admiring your surroundings can be very relaxing. It’s very difficult to enjoy the outdoors when we have to always wear a mask everywhere we go, however, we should feel free to enjoy some fresh air from the comfort of our own home. Have some peace and quiet time for you to either enjoy the view, read a book, paint on a canvas, write in your journal, or whatever it may be. Try it one day and see how you feel afterwards.
4: Take a Hot Shower or a Bath It is often said that taking a nice, long, hot shower helps relieve stress. According to an article by Medical News Today, hot showers relax and reduce tension in our muscles and improve brain health and sleep quality. Another option you can choose is to take a warm bath. We suggest taking the bath withepsom salt which contains magnesium that helps relax your muscles and mind.
5: Aromatherapy You may already have known this, but aromatherapy can help improve your mood as well as your mental health. First and foremost, aromatherapy only works through scent or skin absorbing products. There’s diffusers, which allow you to smell the product through dispersed essential oils. There’s also aromatic spritzers, which are wooden sticks in a glass container that help fill the room with the scent of the essential oils. Next, there’s body oils, creams, or lotions which are essentially used for massaging your skin because when doing so, your skin will absorb the essential oils and relax you. There are also face steamers, which is the same as a diffuser, but with steamers, you put your face over the dispersed water rather than letting it fill the whole room. Lastly, there are clay masks which have the same effect as the lotions, creams, and body oils because the essential oils are absorbed through the skin. You can use these products during your nightly routine to feel relaxed at the end of the day.
Conclusion This is the start to a new routine for you! By using some of the methods we listed above, you can start relieving your stress in a more healthier, natural way. Life can be difficult sometimes. We will face many challenges along the road, but we will always overcome them. You should never give up because this is just the beginning of a beautiful routine!