COVID-19 Anxiety, Stress, and Uncertainty!
Oh man, where to begin. It has been a crazy 8 (or 9?) month ride since we went into COVID lockdown. Everything was so sudden! It started with working from home to not being able to leave home whatsoever unless necessary. So much happened all at once. It took a while to comprehend what was even going on!
I could no longer be social, see my closest friends, or do any of the things I loved doing outside of home. Worst of all - in April I had flights booked to see my family back home in Thailand, which I had to cancel! That was (and still is) the toughest part - not being able to see my family when I want.
What started as uncertainty, quickly turned into stress which lead to anxiety. I was feeling more exhausted and restless than usual. I was overthinking a lot more and worrying too much with no rational reason. With all this - I had trouble falling asleep! I realized this pattern had to stop and I needed to change my mindset if I wanted the anxieties to go away and feel calmer within.
I wanted to fill up my time with meaningful and productive things. Part of me felt excited for a new routine that allowed me to make my own schedule, add in new things I could do at home, and spend more time creating content for my social media channels. Furthermore, I knew I had to find ways to stay physically active to keep my anxiety and stress at bay.
So, one of the best activities I added to my new work from home routine was yoga. What started off as an impulsive purchase of a yoga mat from Amazon, quickly turned into a daily routine! I spent about 30 minutes every day on yoga with the help of YouTube videos casted on my living room TV. Quite the makeshift set up I tell you! Sometimes I would replace Yoga with specific workouts if I wanted to focus on muscle strengthening. As the weather became nicer, I would take my mat on my outdoor patio and enjoy the fresh air. This was “me time” - and it felt incredible each day.
Yoga promoted relaxation and helped me clear my mind. Even though there were days where I could not spend a full 30 minutes, I would take at least 15 minutes out to practice some relaxing yoga and breathing techniques. Yoga was a binding agent to help me build a deeper connection between my mind and body. It allowed me to shed negative emotions brought on by the pandemic and focus my energy on the present, be aware of my conscience and my body. I believe It also had a significant impact on my productivity. I was and still am getting a lot more done!
Yoga helped make my quarantine days far more positive - even when I was surrounded with COVID conversations and news. Most importantly, it helped me manage my stress and anxiety. I was more energetic and focused with my day-to-day activities, sleeping better at night, and felt a sense of positivity and openness. It kept my mental health strong. I sometimes still struggle with the restlessness and occasional anxiety, but when in need I quickly find my way to my yoga mat and work through my mind and body. COVID has been such a powerful reminder of how quickly the world can change and how important your physical and mental health is. It is ultimately the tale teller of your happiness!
Disclaimer: The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
