Here we go again! It appears the world is closing once again in response to COVID-19.
This reminded me of a line from Godfather III when Michael Corleone protested, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”
We thought things were getting back to normal: dining out, meeting people, going to church, movies, concerts, and sporting events. But COVID cases are rising, and once again, it’s back to quarantine, isolation, and distancing.
For some, this is a positive thing: working at home, more time with the family, and fewer people getting sick or dying. For others, this is very hard: isolation, too much time with the family, inactivity, uncertainty, and the loss of our freedom and “lives.”
So, what do we do? How do we survive or even thrive (is that possible?) in this unpredictable time? Well, I have five suggestions. I will post two today and three more on my next post.
1. Meditate – Feed Your Soul and Get a Healthy Perspective
Spend at least five minutes (more is better) regularly to quiet your soul and get grounded. Because we thrive more in a safe and stable environment, the uncertainty of this time creates anxiety, fear, and hypervigilance in our soul. Therefore, we need time regularly to quiet our souls, get grounded, and get some healthy perspective on the situation.
If you are a follower of Christ, read the Bible, journal, pray, and enjoy a sweet time communing with God. Focus especially on things you are grateful for and allow God to speak His truth into your life (Philippians 4:6-9) and give you His perspective (Jeremiah 29:11).
If you do not believe in God, use the time to think about the day and journal your thoughts and feelings. Seeing them expressed on a paper would give you a healthier perspective on the day. Writing down what you are grateful for would help you focus on the positives rather than the negatives.
2. Move – Exercise Your Body and Release the Stress
Prolonged uncertainty (COVID-19 time) can lead to prolonged anxiety. When you are anxious, the body releases stress hormones that are meant to help you deal with the pressure. But a long-term overexposure to stress hormones can also lead to depression, irritability, negative thoughts, fatigue, and even physical ailment.
One way to manage the stress hormones in your body is a regular exercise (the other 4 elements listed here and the following post would help also). Spend twenty minutes at least three times a week (more is better) engaged in an exercise routine to produce a healthier body and mind.
A simple exercise like walking with your loved ones for at least twenty minutes could help boost your health, lower your anxiety, and create an emotional bond with your family.
Click for three more suggestions in part 2 of the post.
