Easing the scourge of Coronanxiety
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It's natural to be anxious and afraid about the new strains of the Coronavirus, and it's understandable to be angry at another tough total lockdown announced last night by the Prime Minister.
No one knows what's in store for us this year, and while we've got vaccines being distributed, the way our own and European governments are handling vaccination roll-outs is not (yet??) encouraging.
We're being forced again (this time overnight!) back to our homes under strict instructions to stay in unless shopping or exercising. Too many of us are stuck in cramped homes, on our own or with family (either might be deeply depressing) with yet more worries about money and jobs and our children's future. And growing heating bills.
Either you've got an 'Optimism Bias' or you're running around with the mantra 'How long, dear Lord, how long??" repeating like a gong at the back of your mind every few minutes of every day. Will we have some inkling over the next six weeks which mindset turns out to be true? Or whether the chips will fall somewhere in between?
The Blogger is still - just - a believer in the old adage that 'it's not what happens to you but how you handle it that matters.'
So much of life right now is out of our control but not letting our anxiety get the better of us is possible. Resilience, calm in the face of events is the only option available in these unusual times.
These practical tips for reducing anxiety may be helpful for people of all ages:
- Structure your day. Set up a routine, make a timetable, follow a schedule so that, at the end of the day, you will have engaged in meaningful activity (and accomplished something more than taking in half your bodyweight in chocolate, cheese and carbs!).
- Get up when you wake up...or as near as possible. Eventually we'll have to get back to a normal life involving alarm clocks and deadlines. (During these freezing temperatures, it is okay to allow yourself an extra hour under the duvet until the flat warms up!)
- No jammies/p-jays. Jump into the shower and get dressed in clean clothes; casual is ok, sloppiness is not.
- Set aside an hour a day to discuss the virus/government/politicians then put your mind to other things.
- Decide on a time (or times) to watch the news; watch something entertaining or educational at other times
- Social media is great for keeping in touch but create a What's App group to bypass fake news, rumours, rage and anti-government carping which is dominating some sites
- Limit time on your devices; turn off notifications for periods of time.
- Find a nearby park and walk there, daily, even if it's only for 20-minutes. The cold is actually quite bracing and reviving, so long as you are dressed warmly, in layers. (See How to beat freezing weather frugally). Get out early (around sunrise) to avoid crowds; enough people are around to feel safe but not enough to disturb. The wonders of being surrounded by greenery and majestic trees are profoundly calming; it will stop catastrophising or going straight to a worse case scenario.
- If you can't get out, try one of the many home exercise programmes on the telly. Joe Wicks has taken home exercising by storm; check tv guides for BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Adrienne on You Tube offers free yoga classes. My own yoga teacher, Diana Broad, offers excellent reasonably priced yoga on Zoom for oldies/the slightly worn and relative youngsters aiming to age gracefully. She is available in some US states.
- Practice deep breathing, which has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety. Try the free app Breathe2Relax
- Put distance between the coronavirus and you with cooking, hobbies, a project you've never got round to. There are plenty of excellent cooking shows for easy budget-friendly dishes on BBC 2, Channel 4 and ITV. Food Network (Channel 42 on Freeview) is excellent. Or how about taking a free university class, including coding. Try Coursera which offers all kinds of subjects from top-notch universities.
- Find things to laugh at: old films, animals, kids. Laughter eases tension and though it may not make you forget, it could leave you with a smile.
- Eat well: antioxidant rich fruit & vegetables are best and you'll need something to take the edge off all the comfort eating
Additional Sources:Stephen Fry, Andrew Marr Show 22.03.20, Alice Hall, Daily Telegraph 24.03.20
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