In the blink of an eye.
The world is changing at breakneck speed and it’s hard to play catch up. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit us hard. While many are happy with the time off, staying home has been difficult for others. The blissful days of Dalgona coffee and celebrity workouts are over and we’re slowly getting used to the new reality. It’s natural for anyone to feel stir-crazy and have problems with readjusting. Pinkymind is hear for you! This piece is all about what you can do to make life a little easier for yourself and those around you during these testing times.
The 5 “R”s – On how to deal with stress, worries and anxiety.
Routine
Building a routine is never easy, but having a comfortable way of doing things to fall back on is a blessing. Having a routine eliminates a lot of worry, because it requires little to no planning.
This does not mean that your day has to be scheduled down to the minute. Take it one step at a time. Start by doing two things and try to do them everyday. Remember not to beat yourself up if you miss a day or two! You’re doing something new, after all. It takes some getting used to, so shrug it off and try again.
What does a routine look like?
- The process of making a therapeutic cup of a hot beverage after you wake up.
- Watering plants.
- A bedtime routine of reading for a while before sleeping.
- Exercise.
Respire – 4-4-4-4 rule
Respire is just another fancy way to say breathe. Our bodies show the first signs of stress. When we’re preoccupied with worrisome things, we breathe in more shallowly, hold the tension in our shoulders, tighten our jaws, bite our lips, fidget and so on. A tense body equals a tense mind, which in turn impedes productivity and functioning.
Set alarms throughout the day (preferably one or two hour intervals) to check in with your body.
The 4-4-4-4 rule is useful if you are feeling overwhelmed. Counting off the seconds in your head gives you something else to focus on other than your thoughts.
- Inhale for 4 seconds.
- Hold your breath for 4 seconds.
- Exhale for 4 seconds.
- Hold it again for 4 seconds.
- Drop your shoulders and relax your jaw.
- Walk around on a textured floor while hydrating.
Repeat this cycle about 5 times until you feel like you’ve gotten a handle on things and you’re good to go!
Rest
Right now, we’re in the middle of a crisis. Unfortunately, we’re all socialised to think that rest is something that is earned after a hard day’s work.
It isn’t.
You have every right to take a break and recharge.There’s no compulsion for you to get things done and be productive or compare your progress with others. Give yourself permission to take a step back and evaluate your needs. Curl up in a cozy corner if you need to, because self care is different for each person!
What does rest look like?
- Sleeping for 8 hours a night.
- A calming oil massage.
- An afternoon siesta.
- An hour of music.
- Social media detox.
Reward
When you do accomplish things, however, reward yourself satisfactorily before moving on to the next one. As a result, you can tackle your tasks with more enthusiasm. Rewards bring a warm glow with them, so make sure you bask in that light.
If you finished a chapter you found difficult, eat that bar of chocolate! Did you work out for an hour? Then watch that episode you’ve been denying yourself! You deserve it ❤
It also helps a great deal to acknowledge the efforts of those around us. If you’ve noticed that your parent/partner/child/friend has been going above and beyond, you could offer to do something that’ll relieve their burden. This strengthens bonds and ensures that all of you feel a little less alone
What do rewards look like?
- Offering to take over meal preparation.
- Doing things without being asked.
- Maintaining cleanliness.
- Acknowledging personal space.
- Lots of hugs.
Relay
Are you familiar with relay races from when you were in school? You didn’t run the entire 400 m race all by your lonesome. There would be three other people waiting for you to pass on the baton to them so you wouldn’t have to shoulder the burden alone.
To this end, relaying also means to convey information. In this context, just talk and let it all out. Maybe you can talk about it to your family, your friends or even the team at PinkyMind.
“Paper has more patience than people.”
– Anne Frank
I couldn’t agree more. There are times when we don’t want to reach out to anyone and that’s alright. However, mental thoughts need an outlet, just like physical energy. This outlet can also be in the form of a diary, an art journal or a list, as long as it works for you.
What does relaying look like?
- You could schedule weekly conference calls with your loved ones to catch up on things.
- If you’re blessed with pets, try talking to them as well!
- You could also write in a journal or your phone every night. The idea is to have a safe space for your thoughts.
It’s a tough time and we hope you’re doing well. If you’re not, PinkyMind is only a few taps away, ready to take your baton and help you shoulder the burden of the race.
Here’s wishing you lots of light and healing! Download the application today.
