The COVID-19 pandemic changed the landscape of modern life in countless ways. Things that used to be normal, like going to work with the sniffles or riding mass transit without a mask, now seem shocking, and a fear of ongoing illness has now been instilled in countless people. And even though the threat is far better understood than it was in March of 2020, the effects remain; the World Health Organization found that instances of anxiety and depression have risen by 25% in the wake of the pandemic.
However, this doesn’t mean you need to live with residual COVID trauma. These 10 anxiety relief tips can help you manage your complicated feelings and get you started on the path to a brighter future.
1. Prioritize Self-Care
If there’s anything we learned from the pandemic, it’s the importance of self-care. Whether this means regular massages, cutting down work hours or even switching job roles to something lower-stress, make sure you’re focusing on your own well-being from the inside out.
2. Set Boundaries
When you’re overwhelmed with stress from something like reopening anxiety, every additional stressor can feel like an overwhelming hurdle. To mitigate this, set clear boundaries. This can mean something like a firm cut-off time at work, conversational topics you refuse to discuss, mandated daily alone time to rest and recharge or even no-go social obligations.
3. Explore Hobbies
Personal passions and hobbies—things that you prioritize for yourself, not for someone else—can be a great resource for mental health. If you’ve spent most of your life giving time to others, like work or family, find opportunities to carve out time for the things you find individually enjoyable. Reading, fishing, puzzles, ceramics or even building miniature models—the opportunities are endless.
4. Stay Social
When you’re stressed, tired or anxious, social events can feel too overwhelming to bother with. However, seeing friends, enjoying date nights or simply going to an after-work happy hour can be mood boosters. Don’t overextend yourself if you’re not in a good mental place, but don’t shut the door on fun just because getting ready or leaving the house seems like too much effort.
5. Stay Active
Exercise can be an incredible way to boost endorphins and improve your mood. This doesn’t mean training for a marathon or spending hours at the gym, of course; simply going for a walk a few times a week, starting a regular yoga practice or trotting on a treadmill now and then can make a difference in your mental state, especially when feeling overwhelmed or under pressure.
6. Lean Into Family
If your family is a safe and healthy resource, embracing family time can quell temporary feelings of anxiety or stress. No one knows you like your family, and that includes your unique idiosyncrasies and stressors. Whether a hug from your child or dinner with your parents, spending time with a small circle of loved ones can be a benefit, especially when spending time in large public places triggers reentry anxiety.
7. Take Up Journaling
Even if you’ve never been much of a writer, putting pen to paper to document your feelings can be very cathartic. Doing so can help you define your emotions, explore root causes for anxiety, explain your feelings to yourself to better put them into context and help you brainstorm ways to move forward. If the idea of keeping journals is stressful, that’s okay; free-writing and disposing of samples immediately can be beneficial, too.
8. Avoid Substances
At the start of the pandemic, using drugs and alcohol to cope with stress was very common. On the surface, this may seem logical, as these substances can dull the pain of what’s going on in the world. However, this is often the start of a vicious cycle that can lead to long-term addiction. Even when a drink seems tempting, do your best to indulge in healthier forms of stress relief instead.
9. Ask for Help
If the coping strategies you can manage at home aren’t enough to combat your reentry anxiety, that’s okay—professional help is just a call or click away. Individual counseling or group therapy can be a great way to help address anxiety, no matter your unique perspective and no matter how you’re feeling. Even scheduling an appointment to discuss anxiety relief tips or how trauma from the pandemic changed everything for you can go a long way.
10. Appreciate Every Step
Going from pandemic stress to a healthy, anxiety-free lifestyle may seem like a gap too large to bridge with small coping techniques alone, but it’s important to keep in mind that every step counts. When you take time to appreciate the little things, like your daily accomplishments in facing anxiety, the big things will feel a lot more manageable.
Regardless of the mental health challenges you’re facing, seeking help can make or break your overall health and wellness. Contact us today to learn more about how to best take care of yourself in these trying times.