As we once again plunge into the uncertainty of a nationwide lockdown brought on by a global pandemic, the rapid change in lifestyle can wreak havoc with your mental health. Overanalysing simple situations and feeling anxious for unknown reasons is all par for the course during such a strenuous period.
However, you must remind yourself what you do have control over, and that’s where mindfulness can be a huge help. In this article, we will explore three simple ways you can get back in touch with your mindfulness to remain calm and at peace while you’re forced to stay in your personal sanctuary.
Meditation
You can only binge your favourite TV show for so long before that too gets sucked into the abyss of boredom. Instead of looking for new ways to keep your brain occupied, try giving it a chance to reconnect with your mind through some simple meditation. You don’t need anything except a quiet space to get underway, simply sit, or lie comfortably, close your eyes, and focus your entire attention on breathing and how your body moves through each breath. Like any positive change, you will get better through practice and repetition, so it’s important to allow yourself room to drift and come back to the process as you train yourself to focus for longer periods. However, after a few minutes of thoughtful breathing, you will feel your tensions start to dissolve as you drift into mindful thinking. A famous zen maxim reads; “you should meditate for 20 minutes a day unless you’re too busy. Then you should meditate for an hour”.
Find a new recipe to bake
This one may sound simple, but having a simple set of instructions to follow can be very therapeutic as well as effectively bringing you back to the present moment. You might go for some double chocolate muffins, or a vegan caramel slice, that part is completely up to you. Once you’ve made your selection, pop your favourite album on and follow that recipe down to the finest detail. In minutes your kitchen will be home to a pleasant aroma and an inviting ambiance. It’s hard to feel stressed when you’ve got some fresh baked goods melting in your mouth!
Find a Creative Outlet
A beautifully diverse option for alleviating stress is choosing a creative outlet to get lost in. You might pick up a set of acrylic paints and see where you end up, or you might dance around the living room to your heart’s content. Perhaps you feel like singing that new song you’ve found, or there’s a project you’ve been meaning to get to in the garden. Whatever the case, following the flow of your creative juices will bring you back to the moment, concentrated solely on the task at hand. An added benefit of getting lost in creation is the resulting natural dopamine release. You’ve probably heard of it before – dopamine looks after our pleasure centre, making us feel rewarded when we do certain activities. Ultimately, this makes us more likely to repeat those activities, leaving us on the right path to creating healthy habits.
Remaining calm, accepting the current situation, and looking after yourself are key to making it through this lockdown with a level of comfort. Whatever wellness habits you have implemented, we recommend keeping them up and using whatever resources you have at your fingertips to keep busy and look after yourself.
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