COVID-19: Unplugging During Times of Stress
What you’ll learn
- How to unplug from stress
- Tips for taking care of yourself
- Creative ways to engage your mind and body
What you’ll learn
As the uncertainty from the coronavirus outbreak continues, it’s natural to feel a sense of anxiety, stress, and angst. Heck, speaking for myself as a mom of two young, school-aged girls, my emotions are all over the place! One minute I’m laughing over a GIF, and the next minute I’m sobbing over the daily dose of pandemic-related stories I read about online, watch on the local or national news, or hear on the radio. Trust me, it’s a constant rollercoaster of emotions. Add to that a dash of constantly worrying about finances, school closures, health, work, family, relationships, or any number of other triggers bound to manifest these unwelcomed feelings of fear, stress, or depression, and it’s a miracle we’re still functioning some days.
It seems every life situation is bringing its own set of unprecedented challenges. Right now, there are countless college students living at home again, separated from their friends, teachers, and peers; parents who are doing their best to homeschool their kids while working from home themselves; and single people struggling with social isolation, all while facing the daily uncertainty about how long our new “normal” will last.
Regardless of your personal situation, it’s important to find ways to navigate and cope with whatever you’re feeling. To help, here are some great tips that might allow you to unplug and give your heart, body and mind the TLC it needs during this time of stress.
Unplug from the world around you! It’s no secret, excessive use of technology can intensify certain problems you may already be facing. Studies have proven that too much screen time from cellphones, computers, and other devices can add more harm than good. Do yourself a favor and try following some of these simple steps:
Taking a ‘time out’ from all your social channels and digital devices are great ways to help center yourself. There are lots of different options to engage your mind and body that don’t involve scrolling through your Facebook or Instagram page. Here are some to consider:
Lastly, one of the most important things to remember when trying to keep stress down at a time like this is to keep and follow a schedule. Most of us thrive off having structure in our lives, which is why we should do our best to stick to a daily routine. Whether it’s bathing, working, eating meals or finding time for things we do on a daily basis, be sure to stick to doing these things around the same time every day. This will help you feel a sense of normalcy during a time of such uncertainty.
Jennifer is a Sallie Mae employee and a graduate of Temple University. When she’s not playing the role of dance mom to her two young daughters, you can find Jenn and her husband strolling through the streets of Philly looking for the best local eats. She is also a huge Ricky Martin fan!
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