Life has changed for many of us due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19. Everyone is operating at increased levels of awareness and schedules have been drastically altered. As a result, stress levels for many people are at an all-time high. This has caused me to reflect on my own stress.There’s the kind we typically deal with such as traffic, bills, and project deadlines. Then there’s the unexpected which a lot of us are facing now.

Regardless of the source, there are ways of managing our heightened tension. Here are just a few methods that have helped me.

Acknowledge your feelings

Stress is your body telling you something is wrong, so what you shouldn’t do is ignore it. I’m not saying give in to your stress, but one of the worst things you can do is pretend it doesn’t exist. If you try to suppress it, things might get worse.

What you’re feeling is valid, so acknowledge that. If you are able to identify when you’re stressed, you’ll be better equipped to deal with it. Ignoring it can actually make things worse and add to your stress. This is a hard thing for a lot of us to do, myself included. If you’re like me, you have a tendency to pile on the stress without taking the necessary steps to alleviate it. But it’s important to recognize when you’re stressed, and then take a step back. Admitting your stressed doesn’t make you weak – it means you have a lot to deal with.  

Focus on something else

When faced with the ever-growing mountain of things to worry about, one of the best things to do is focus on something else. Trust me, that stuff isn’t going anywhere but your mind and body will thank you.

It doesn’t really matter what you do to distract yourself, as long as you step away for a bit. You could listen to music, take a walk, clean, exercise, or even play a game. I would suggest that whatever it is you do, that it’s positive. You definitely need those positive vibes when you’re feeling down.

Help others

Another way to shift our focus is by helping someone else. With everything on your mind, it may be hard to realize that you aren’t the only one that has a lot going on. While it might seem hard, it’s important to help others during this time. We are stronger together than we are alone. Now this doesn’t mean we have to physically be together (social distancing, friends). But anything we can do to make others feel better will not only help them but help our own morale as well. Let’s work together to lift the load.

It doesn’t have to be much. Regular communication, delivering groceries, or some needed yard work. Just remember that they are human and have the same needs as you.

Meditate 

Meditation may be one that doesn’t come to mind for a lot of people but trust me when I say it can do wonders. Meditating allows you to clear your mind and can be refreshing if you give it time. There a several ways you can meditate so just see what works for you. I would just recommend that you find a quiet space where you won’t be bothered, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, be consistent, and if you need added help there are tons of free apps and videos online to walk you through the process.

Try Calm CBD Roll-On from Nature’s Ultra

One product I regularly turn to is Nature’sUltra Calm CBD Roll-On. It’s easy to use, portable, and really puts me a tease. Use this with everything else I mentioned and see if you don’t notice a change in your life.

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Whatever you do to take the edge off, remember you’re not alone. The whole world is going through this right now and that includes your friends and family. Do what you can to strengthen each other and see if that doesn’t help you stay calm as well.

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