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ℍ𝕠𝕨 𝕋𝕠 𝕄𝕒𝕟𝕒𝕘𝕖 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕒 𝕍𝕚𝕣𝕦𝕤 𝔸𝕟𝕩𝕚𝕖𝕥𝕪

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This is a scary time for everyone all over the world, everything is uncertain, everything is new. We have never experienced a pandemic like this in our lifetimes. I wanted to dedicate this blog to some tips on how I personally have been managing my anxiety around this. If/when we go into lockdown, it is so important to look after your mental health as well as physical health.

1: Accept your feelings and allow them in. If you are scared or stressed out, constantly wishing things were back to normal and not accepting the reality, this will not help. Acceptance will help you feel more at ease (believe it or not!). Accepting doesn’t mean you are fine with whatever is happening however, you are allowing the feelings to come and go. We need to accept that this pandemic is happening, and we will be okay.

2: Try and avoid the excessive reading of the media coverage of it - PLEASE Y'ALL this will only make you feel worse. Keeping up to date is important, however, make sure you have time away from social media every day. Turn your phone on airplane mode or turn it off completely for at least 1 hour a day.

3: Regularly check in with friends and loved ones and create a support network for each other. My friends and I have already planned to group calls every day. We are so lucky to have the internet and be able to stay connected like we can - use it! This is especially necessary for anyone isolating alone. Perhaps have a virtual coffee date or each lunch together with your friends.

"In every crisis, doubt or confusion, take the higher path - the path of compassion, courage, understanding, and love." Amit Ray

4: Self-care is as important as ever. You can take a look at any platforms for full tips on self-care.

5: Make a goals list. If we are all going to be stuck inside for a while, how can we use this time? What is it you’ve always wanted to do however haven’t had the time for? Perhaps it’s to start writing a book, create a website, read more, get into art. For example, I am planning on starting a downloadable E-Book for my recipes or new reads. Now is the best time. Use it to better yourself, learn and grow as a person. If you are not alone why not create a full game night or recreate something from your favorite film, have a group pamper night, do a yoga morning or group meditation. Continue to have faith and fun:).

“Maybe it did take a crisis to get to know yourself; maybe you needed to get whacked hard by life before you understood what you wanted out of it." Jodi Picoult

6: Practise a diary or gratitude journal. A great way to remind yourself of the good in life when everything seems bad is to write a gratitude journal. Every day writes down a few things that you are grateful for, anything at all. Read them back and take a deep breath. There is always good found within the bad, you just have to look hard enough.

7: If possible go outside and get some fresh air. Go outside (by yourself of course) and go on a short walk. If you are in isolation and If you have access to a garden, use it. Sit outside for 20 minutes and just take some big deep breaths. It will help clear your head. If you don’t have a garden, open the window or door in your house to still get some fresh air in.

8: Positive affirmations for Corona Anxiety: Repeat after me - “ I will focus on what I can control, not what I can’t. “, “I remain grounded and at peace”, “ I protect my peace by spending less time on social medial and watching the news”, “I take all necessary precautions and release the need to worry”, “when anxious thoughts come to me, I allow them in, and then let them float away, “ I choose to be calm and have faith every day”, “ I am safe and protected”. YASS.

9: Some positives: 80,000 people have recovered (a 103-year-old lady included), Venice canals have clear water for the first time in years, global emissions are down, animals exist, people are creating online groups in their community to help the elderly and vulnerable, nurses, doctors, soldiers and everyone else are working extra hard in order to help us and we are so grateful and thankful, singers are performing shows via Instagram live to keep peoples spirits up, account such as calm are doing Instagram lives for group meditation, Annie Mac did a 2 hour playlist dedicated to stress reliving and anti-anxiety, some celebrities or influencers have been donating millions to help organizations that need it more right now, people are coming together as we need it most and it’s a wonderful thing to see.

10: Helping someone else will also help you. If you are able to, try to help someone out who may need it. Perhaps do a food shop for the elderly couple down your road, reach out to your neighbors and check they are okay, write some uplifting messages online or even just tell your friends or family how much they mean to you and help keep each other strong. People all around the world are showing unbelievable kindness right now, and it is helpful and hopeful. Let’s all come together.

“ And the people stayed at home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their dark shadows. And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous and mindless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new dreams, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed. “