Pandemics suck. It has wrecked the most beautiful moments of our lives and pushed us into a more asocial environment, as we have seen over the past 1.5 years. Even though we are hopefully nearing the end of this nightmare, I'd like to share some of the ideas I did throughout the pandemic that can also be applied in everyday life. I feel that these work so well, and I’d like to share these well-known yet unused techniques for changing your mood, and making you feel better.
Meditation
Begin your day by meditating. Please do not bypass the first tip by saying "okay, ok," but rather do it. Get up earlier than usual to clear your mind of empty ideas and allow yourself to feel lighter in the mornings. You'll notice how much clearer your thoughts and actions become throughout the day. This will make it easier for you to break free from your depressive thoughts, and be happy.
Exercising
I'm bad at sticking to a routine, but I enjoy the sensation of having the discipline and living a regular life. So, starting around June 2020, I began running in the mornings while everyone else was eating breakfast or racing to work. To be honest, the first few days were excruciating. My legs, especially my chest, were in incredible pain. But I refused to give up. I increased the pain by going for late-afternoon walks. I couldn't control my masochistic desires, so I started practicing yoga at middays. Looking back, I notice how much better I looked, lived, and felt. I never felt like a couch potato or a lazy and unproductive person throughout those days, not even in my academic life. As a result, if you feel like you're rotting in your seat, being burned by your hopelessness, listen to me and move your body. Burning calories and increasing your hormone production will make you feel more lively and less depressed. Let’s move on.
Reading
Just read something. Please…
Hobbies
Hobbies are not activities to waste your time with. To me, hobbies provide me with the opportunity to devote time to myself while also improving my skills and mental wellness. Whatever… You may either look for a new hobby or simply keep practicing an old one. This can be painting, playing chess, learning a new language, or playing an instrument. I worked very hard to develop my cooking skills, and now I can bake cookies without fear of setting the kitchen on fire. Well, it is fun.
Writing
Many people claim that writing down ideas relieves anxiety. So I decided to give it a shot, but because I don't want anybody just opening my notebook and reading it, I write in French. I don't speak French at all, but that's not the point. I feel that by writing in French, I will become fluent in a matter of seconds. I suggest writing in such different ways to make it more fun and private.
These are the things I use to deal with anxiety, and I hope they become useful to you as well. If you have any further recommendations, please leave them in the comments section below. I won’t probably see them, but whatever. Take good care of yourself!