If you are feeling particularly stressed or anxious right now, you are not alone. Many of us are experiencing more negative emotions than usual in these unprecedented times. However, there are still some things you can do to lower your anxiety during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
At Beauty Boost, we want to help you take care of yourself during this difficult time. We’ve put together some tips to help you make it through the next few weeks:
1. Get quality sleep
Getting enough sleep can be difficult, but it’s one of the best ways to keep yourself physically and mentally healthy. Sleep is all the more important when you are experiencing extra anxiety or stress.
If you have trouble falling asleep, try some of our favorite sleep tricks:
- Stay on a regular sleep schedule. Even if you don’t have to be anywhere in the morning, waking up and going to bed at the same time every day can help you improve the quality and length of your sleep. Sticking to a regular schedule will help your body adapt its circadian rhythm so you feel tired right away when it’s time to rest.
- Use soothing audio to fall asleep. You may find it easier to fall asleep to soft nature sounds, relaxing music, or meditations from sleep sound apps like Relax Melodies or Dark Noise. You could also use a sleep playlist from Spotify or of your own creation.
- Have a relaxing bedtime routine. Take 30 minutes before bed to enjoy a warm bath, listen to calming music, or read a book. Doing the same relaxing activities each night will signal to your body that it’s time to settle down. We recommend not watching TV or looking at your phone right before bed since the blue-tinted light from the screen can trigger your brain to stay awake.
- Reduce clutter in the bedroom. A comfortable, peaceful bedroom is a must for getting your best quality sleep. If the room where you sleep is overly cluttered, it could make you feel less restful, even unconsciously.
2. Keep up your personal care routines
Keeping up your personal care routines can help you maintain a sense of normality regardless of what is going on in the outside world. You may not have as much outside motivation right now, but you can still do it for you!
If you are working from home for the immediate future, make a point of wearing the same clothes during the workday that you would wear to the office. Add a little extra care to your routine if you are feeling particularly stressed, like a soothing bath in the evenings. Daily skincare and morning showers are a particularly good way to keep yourself feeling fresh for Zoom calls.
Mindfulness can also be a great personal care tool during times of stress. Learning how to be fully present in the moment can help you reduce stress, improve your focus, and boost your mood. If you aren’t already practicing meditation, we recommend trying out an app like Headspace.
3. Try a new hobby
Have you ever wanted to try drawing, learn another language, or play a new musical instrument? Right now is a great time to get started. Taking up a new hobby can help you cope with anxiety and pass the time.
It’s also totally OK to turn to TV shows, movies, or books. An uplifting story can be a particularly good distraction and mood booster when you’re feeling stressed.
4. Stay active
Exercise helps you stay physically and mentally healthy. Even if you don’t have a home gym, there are plenty of exercises you can do inside or in your backyard.
If you belong to a fitness club or yoga studio, find out if it offers virtual classes. Corepower Yoga and Radiant Hot Yoga are offering a wide range of classes totally free, and Blink Fitness is hosting Facebook Live sessions. You can also look for workouts from online course providers and apps. Peloton is currently offering a 90-day free trial for its app.
We particularly love practicing yoga for its mental health benefits. You may not have an instructor present, but there are plenty of apps and videos you could use, like DOYOUYOGA, Yoga with Adriene, or Gabe Yoga on YouTube.
5. Connect with others virtually
We know how hard it is when you can’t hug your loved ones or see your friends. You can’t control when it will be safe to meet up in person again, but there are still some things you can do to feel closer to other people.
Connecting with friends and family over video and social media will help you feel less isolated. While in-person meetups may no longer be an option, you can still use FaceTime, Whatsapp, Skype, Messenger, or another video chat app to spend quality time with your loved ones. Zoom even offers games that can be played through the system with your friends!
Remember, we’re all in this together, and the current situation will come to an end. 💋
