Keeping Centered in Challenging Times
As the Corona Virus keeps more and more of our clients close to home, it’s a good time to review the stress management strategies in your toolbox.
Get Outside: Taking care of your “marvelous machine” strengthens your immune system and can have a huge positive psychological benefit. Keeping “social distance” in mind, outside time, can renew the spirit and give you some natural Vitamin D.
Fuel: Stick with your meal plans and follow the advice of your BLS therapist. It’s easy to fall into bad habits when cabin fever sets in. The right fuel can be a huge contributor to your emotional well-being and can protect you from illness, too.
Control Your Social Media Intake: With the free time forced upon us by unexpected time at home, it will be easy to focus on the frenetic and often un-substantiated information that flies at us on Twitter and Facebook. Seek out trusted resources, like the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Vette everything you see and hear. Bad advice is just as contagious as COVID19. Don’t feed the trolls by getting into on-line debates. Use websites like Snopes.com to double check what may seem like conventional wisdom. It’s often not so.
Focus on Your Breath: Research has shown that “breath-focused attention” can actually lower your stress and anxiety levels. The mindful exercise of simply focusing on the mindful process of inhaling and exhaling is a simple, powerful tool to bring you back into the moment. The breath is the foundation of meditation, another skill that can help you stay centered. Consider exploring a meditation practice, if it’s not already part of your tool box.
Consult a Professional: At Better Living Solutions, our licensed, accredited therapists can help you create a personalized game plan to manage anxiety and stress. Contact us to learn more.
“This, too, shall pass.” As frightening as the current situation can be, remember that all things are impermanent. Whatever today’s challenge may be will float into memory tomorrow. Do your best to live in the present moment, but never lose faith that you will prevail. The world’s greatest achievers share this paradox in common: They are able to deal with the unpleasantness that may exist in the now, but keep the faith that the ultimate outcome will make them stronger, more confident human beings.
We become what we think about. In every season of your life, think productive thoughts, focus on the opportunities that lie at the center of every challenge, and have faith that you can make the toughest moments in your life the defining moments.
Did You Know: That Better Living Solutions therapists can meet with you in person or “virtually” in your home? Being homebound doesn’t have to get in the way of healing. Call Better Living Solutions for information about how we humanize technology to provide individualized care, wherever you may be.