As human beings, we have all experienced stressful periods at some point in our lives. We all know what it feels like to be “stressed out”, and we usually know how to manage our stress. However, the current coronavirus pandemic has elevated the idea of stress into the stratosphere. With most of the country under stay-at-home orders, many businesses are reopening and the this has an impact on every aspect of our society in every workplace. Whether it be families shut in the house 24/7 with parents trying to balance working from home and educating children or a single person living alone in isolation, we are all experiencing stress in a way we never have before. for those returning to work have all of this on their mind as they try to balance going out in the world and returning home to their families who are still working from home and attending virtual learning.
As stressful as the uncertainty we face is, remember that it will pass. We are all in this together, and together we can beat COVID-19 stress. Sage by spiced life conversation is here for our customers, teammates, and communities. To that end, we would like to provide some brief insight on how you can manage stress while you are doing your part and staying at home and returning to the office:
Movement and Exercise
Movement is essential to relieving stress, tension, and anxiety. We already know exercise is good for our bodies, but it can also improve our mental health by releasing endorphins, improving our quality of sleep, getting us out of our heads and releasing tension held in our bodies. Exercise doesn’t have to be something you dread; instead, get creative and find activities you enjoy! Dancing, walking, jumping rope, shooting hoops, yoga, or anything that gets your body moving is great. Many fitness studios are offering online streaming classes, and YouTube has free videos on many different types of workouts. For those of you at the office take a brisk walk around your building just to get some air and relief from the mask for a few minutes.
Focus on Your Breathing
Often times when we’re stressed and under a lot of pressure, we breathe shallowly instead of deep and slow. When we breathe deeply, it sends a message to our brain to calm down and relax. By gently bringing your awareness to your breath you can start to intentionally slow down and deepen your breathing. Spend a few minutes focusing on your breathing whenever you are feeling stressed. You may not feel a difference right away, but with continuous practice, you will notice the calming effects. The calm app is very helpful for this who are in the office and is struggling with a bit of anxiety with many folks having issues with wearing mask or getting upset to have to wear them upon entering stores and office space. Deep breath's can help.
Disconnect to Reconnect
With so much fear and negativity in the media it’s important to take the time to disconnect from the news and online media sources that are focus on negativity and all that is going on in the world. While it’s good to be informed, you don’t want to overload yourself with information and negativity. Choose how much media you want to consume and once you’ve reached your limit turn off the TV, get off social media and find a way to disconnect so you want bring that bad energy in the office. Our brains focus on what we feed it, so be sure to find positive outlets. This could be talking to family and friends, watching a funny show or movie, making a list of everything you are grateful for, getting outside, reading, or cooking a healthy meal.
Joyce Meyer taught me that how You End Your Day is How You Start Your Day – and Vice Versa
This applies to our work life and our personal life – how we start our day is how we end our day and how we end our day is how we start our day. Many of us are working remotely and find it easy to crawl out of bed and hop onto our computers right away. But by taking a few moments each morning to take care of ourselves, organize our workspace or plan our day, we can start our day refreshed and clear-headed, leading to a less chaotic day, this goes for this of you who have returned to the physical office.
If we end our day in a frenzy of sending last-minute emails and feeling frazzled, we are more likely to wake up in the same state and continue this pattern throughout the day. So, take a few minutes at the end of each workday to set yourself up for success the next morning. For your personal life, take time at the end of the day to decompress, rest, and do something that brings you joy.
Uphold a Positive Mindset
Staying in a positive mindset can be especially difficult right now. When we find ourselves stuck in negative or fearful thoughts, we can simply acknowledge the thought and choose a new thought. Ask yourself, how can I reframe this thought? What positive spin can I put on this to change my outlook? For example, “I am stuck at work with people who don't respect my wellness by wearing a mask” can be “I am safe at work I choose to set my own boundaries by wearing my mask and staying six feet away.” A simple change of “stuck” to “safe” alters our mindset to think more positively. While it’s important to stay positive, it’s equally important to give yourself compassion if you’re having a hard time and let yourself feel the emotions that are coming up. When you’re ready, start reframing any thoughts that are bringing you down.
Social Support Systems
Now more than ever we need the support of others to get us through an unprecedented time. While visiting people in person is not advised at this time, there are alternative options. Calling, texting and video calls are easy ways to stay connected with friends, family members, colleagues or counselors. It’s great to reach out to others and check in with them on how they are doing, as some people might have a hard time reaching out if they are struggling. There are hundreds of Facebook groups covering a wide range of interests. Joining a group can be a good way to connect with people online who share the same hobbies as you. this goes for mastermind groups to obtain business and work advice.
Maintain a Routine
It can feel like we are losing control over our lives, leaving us feeling powerless. While we cannot always control our outer circumstances, we can turn our focus to what we can control – our routine. In 2020, we all had to establish a routine to help us establish some normalcy in our lives and help us feel less like a victim of our circumstances. Keep that consistency going. Start by following the routine that you already have – waking up at a certain time, getting dressed for the day, taking walks, eating meals at a set time, and performing household chores you do every day. For your return to work- wake up honor God first, then workout to set the tone of the day, prep your meals ahead for the week to ensure you stay on track with healthy eating, perform your work task. From here, you can add in other habits such as lunch break-walks around the parking lot, self-care practices, safe social hour – carve out time to reach out to others to maintain social connections or any new skills you would like to work on.
Conclusion
Though these are stressful and uncertain times, there are things each of us can do to help manage our emotions. The list above is by no means comprehensive and each person will have their own ways to destress. However, if you are having a tough time right now, incorporating a few of the listed items may prove beneficial.
This piece is meant simply to inform, not to provide any legal or medical advice.
About sage by spiced life conversation
Founded in 2016 but incorporated in 2021 to make people’s lives better, Sage by spiced life conversation is a full-service premiere female owned professional cleaning boutique specializing in Organization, Commercial Cleaning, Mobile Notary and Loan Signing Services. For more information regarding Sage by spiced life conversation, visit www.sagbyspicedlifeconversation.com or email spicedlifeconversation@yahoo.com for more information on booking a cleaning services.
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