We can all show stress and anxiety in different ways, and you don’t need to be directly involved with a case to feel it flowing in from the pandemic. Listening to or watching the news, social media updates, and conversations among family and friends are enough to consume your focus and become a trigger.
It’s important to take breaks, know the facts, and know what to do if you are sick or need to get treatment.
Here are our suggested tips to practice wellness at home during the pandemic:
- Have a solid foundation for basic health needs; Psychology Today calls to the four pillars for emotion-regulation
- Sleep hygiene – a regular schedule, limiting both screen and nap time.
- Nutrition – maintaining a healthy balance of nutritious food.
- Staying physically active
- Social support
- Emotion-based coping. If you feel:
- Sad or down, try a soothing activity such as a bath, a quick round of yoga, or even just calling a friend.
- Angry or frustrated, try dancing or cleaning (sanitize!)
- Anxious, try saying your worries aloud, watch some funny videos, or focus on breathing exercises
- Get grounded
- Mental grounding could involve using all of your senses to describe your environment, recite items in a category, or recite your safety statement.
- Physical grounding could involve holding a small item to focus on or digging your feet into the floor.
- Soothing grounding could involve thinking about activities that you are looking forward to, putting up inspiring songs/quotes in your environment, or reciting coping statements.
- Choose (and stick to) a certain time to shower and get dressed
As someone who has practiced meditations of all kinds for roughly 10 years, I can attest that really sticking to grounding practices during the pandemic has really helped to lower stress and stay focused – Jessica
- Take a deep breath
- Practice rounds of inhaling, holding, and exhaling for four seconds each.
I personally practice what’s called ‘box’ breathing; Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale over 4 seconds, rinse and repeat for 4 reps. – Jessica
- Be mindful
- Awareness, attention, and acceptance are the steps included in all mindfulness practices such as meditations or even a mindful walk.
This should apply to your support group or other individuals that you encounter as well. It’s important to be aware of how others are feeling so that you can adjust your energy towards them in order to not elevate stress. – Jessica
- Discover new activities; routine can create a sense of boredom
- Try cooking new meals or painting
- Challenge yourself by learning a new skill such as a new language, a brand-new technique related to your field, or other fitness practices.
- Nourish your mind with positivity
- Write down your thoughts, feelings, goals in a journal
- Be grateful by asking yourself ‘What are the two things I’m grateful for today?’
Herbal remedies to treat COVID-19
Herbal remedies have long been used to treat infections and viruses, such as the common cold, influenza, and fever. Scientifically, there is no cure for COVID-19. However, there are numerous simple ways to treat the symptoms that will help your body fight the virus and recover.
Here’s what you need to treat a mild case at home:
My family and friends have all used these herbal remedies for relief when dealing with a range of illnesses. The steam treatment really does wonders for breathing. – Sherine
- First and foremost, practice self-isolation
- Stay in a room with a dedicated bathroom if possible, away from other members of your household
- Stay in a room with a dedicated bathroom if possible, away from other members of your household
- Breathe in a steam
- Mix Vicks, Rosemary, eucalyptus in a large bowl with hot water and cover yourself with many blankets and breathe in. Practice every day!
- Use a hot shower, humidifier, vaporizer, or other means of making steam. It will soothe a sore throat and open your airways, making it easier to breathe.
- Make herbal/organic beverages
- Mix boiled water, rosemary, ginger, lemon, ⅛ tsp of garlic, honey
Author Bios
Sherine Tumushemeze
Young Energetic East-African IB major | African Student Organization President | Hairstylist | social media publicist | tea enthusiast | plant addict
Jessica Green
Senior Accounting major, Auditing | Jack of some trades: cooking, renovations, favors | Down for sharing knowledge, loving dogs.