Finding Rest, Relaxation and Rejuvenation Amidst a Pandemic

During these chaotic times it may seem extremely difficult and maybe even impossible to understand and act upon the word rest. In a world full of social unrest, constant news updates, and being quarantined, resting can truly be the last thing on someone’s mind. But it is imperative to evaluate your feelings during this time and work through them which can be done in various ways, I will just profile a few of them.

The first is practicing mindfulness and finding solace. This can be done in several ways including praying, meditating, listening to music or something that brings you peace. Find your one practice that brings you peace and start setting a time daily to execute that activity. It could be five minutes, ten minutes or even an hour but work this into your daily schedule. During this time express your emotions about what is going on around you, allow yourself to feel your emotions instead of denying or suppressing them.

We should focus on the things that bring us joy and happiness. Think about this time differently, don’t think of it as being trapped instead think of it as a time of reflection. Practice positivity and gratitude. It can be extremely easy to find the negative aspects of all of this. Instead give to others who are less fortunate than you, create a gratitude list, and talk and interact with the ones you love. Take a break from things that can be emotionally draining and taxing like the news or social media. It’s completely okay to feel overwhelmed by everything that is going on, your feelings are valid.

Next, get active! Walk, run, bike, engage in a physical activity that you enjoy. There are so many benefits to increasing your physical activity during this time which release stress, reduce anxiety and improve your mood. Eat more fruits and vegetables to increase the amount of natural vitamins and minerals that you ingest. Go outside to get some sunshine and enjoy the fresh air. It can be very easy to fall into depression during times like these because we are so uncertain of everything going on around us. But instead of focusing on the things that we can not change, we should focus on the things that we can.
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These are just some of the ways to relax and destress from the current state of the world. Taking it day by day and living in the present will help you to cope and understand your feelings. These are not changes that will occur overnight which is the beauty and power of change. Including these small adjustments and changes in your day by taking five or ten minutes to meditate or exercise will create a huge change in the long run. Be patient with yourself, embrace change, and think positively.