Lockdown Lunacy: Your Greatest Assets In Avoiding Stress and Anxiety During the Pandemic

April 16, 2020 Leave a Comment

Feeling anxious? Stressed? Irritable? Moody? First of all, don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s okay not to feel okay. Especially when we’re all in the throes of an international pandemic. We’ve been cooped up indoors for weeks now. We’ve been diligently practicing our social distancing, straining to keep the kids where they should be while under lock down and coping with the learning curve (and reduced paycheck) that comes with working from home. Under the circumstances, you’re doing an incredible job of keeping it together!

Image by Bongkarn Thanyakij via Pexels


But that doesn’t mean you don’t need and deserve a helping hand when it comes to reducing stress and easing your anxiety. Your home can either be your greatest ally or your greatest enemy when it comes to avoiding stress and anxiety. Here we’ll look at some items around the home which can do you a world of good…

 

Your windows

 

Natural light is both the ultimate office perk and the perfect antidote to cabin fever. So make sure you get plenty coming into your home. Great quality windows are a long term investment, so use a reputable company like Plymouth Window Installation if you plan to replace yours. The right windows can help you to make the most of your natural light,are easy to clean, keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, saving you money on heating and AC. What’s more conducive to a relaxed mind than knowing you’re saving money? 

 

What’s more, your window can give you a great view of…

 

Your garden

 

Who could have known that we’d come to view our time spent outdoors as such a luxury? Nonetheless, the time we spend in the garden can be a great antidote to the stresses and strains of your workplace and your home becoming the same location. 

 

Gardening, fresh air and spending time amidst your flowers and plants can all be a fantastic boost to your mental health and allow the stress of the day to melt away. 

 

Your phone

 

Like your home, your phone can either be your greatest ally or your greatest enemy. If you use your phone to trawl through Facebook and Twitter you’ll likely be struck with a feeling of FOMO as everyone seems to be navigating the lock down better than you… or simply watching people being hateful to one another. However, when you use your phone to call or video chat with your friends you can enjoy an endorphin hit that helps your stress simply drift away. Nothing eases anxiety better than seeing a familiar face. 

 

Your pantry

 

It’s not just the plants in your garden that can be a huge boon for your psychological well being. The food you eat can also help you to reduce stress and anxiety. We’re not talking about the guilty comfort foods you enjoy over the weekends. We’re talking about all the wholefoods and plant based foods which can gradually alter your brain chemistry and stabilize your mood. According to recent studies, plant based diets are directly linked to lower levels of stress, depression and anxiety. 

 

Your pets

 

Finally, we cannot underestimate the importance of pet therapy throughout the lock down. Spending time with your furred and feathered friends can help ease stress, make you smile and boost your mood throughout the day.

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Don’t Let Anxiety Spoil Your Health

February 28, 2020 Leave a Comment

Firstly, for anyone who suffers, or has suffered with anxiety and the whole scale of problems that come under the umbrella of the word, it can be a very difficult thing to deal with. Anxiety can cause a mass of health issues, because anxiety manifests in a physical way, it’s just the nature of the game. 

 

Many people suffer with it, and whilst some people suffer with panic attacks, you must remember also that anxiety attacks can last weeks, they can be hard to get under control and in this time you may suffer a panic attack. There may be things that spark your attacks, such as a stressful period at work, or a difficult home life or maybe it’s relating to your health, such as a diagnosis of something. A lot of health issues can be prevented; a lot of diabetes cases can be, as well as hearing loss. Hearing loss prevention is very important but if you’re suffering with anything physical, it could affect your anxiety. 

 

Here are some of the things to help you live a happier and healthier life in the long run.

Photo: Pixabay

 

  1. Saying YES

 

Fear is the worst thing to bring on anxiety. Letting go of it, yes it is a work in progress for everyone, is one thing that allows your body to naturally release itself of those feelings.  For example, feeling too anxious to go out into a busy place on a night out. If you surround yourself with people who you trust, you have your phone, you have maybe even set a time limit on when you want to come home. You go, you embrace what you’re doing, and suddenly you’re out of your comfort zone. 

 

  1. Have a good sleeping routine

 

Sleeping more is vital. It really is. Even if you are not fully sleeping, if you are in bed at a certain time, and just resting, even meditating, then it all contributes to assisting your body clock.

 

  1. Keep doing what you love! 

 

When you have a purpose in life, suddenly, your feelings of worry about your life, can slowly dissipate. What I’m saying is, keep busy! There’s the old saying that nothing good ever comes easy and it’s true. The more time you put into doing the things that you love, the better! Your passions, and your interests can be really cathartic. Immerse yourself in what you love, and the harder you work, the bigger the benefits!

 

  1. Herbal remedies and other tricks! 

 

Lavender is a great one for keeping calm. You can have a diffuser or oil burner. Especially for the people who suffer with insomnia. Slow breathing, which takes time to master, can really bring down your heart rate if done properly, which in turn will make your mind and body feel better. Concentrate on the sounds you’re listening to. For example, beach waves, or rainfall, or a serene garden. Transport yourself there, take your mind instantly off those thoughts, because once the bad thoughts get into your mind, you can be sucked in and that can cause a panic.

 

Don’t ever think you can’t do it. You can do it. We are all capable of doing anything!! Go enjoy life!!

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Don’t Panic About Your Finances?

January 27, 2020 Leave a Comment

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Finding yourself in any kind of financial difficulty can be incredibly scary. After all, whether you like it or not, money makes the world go round, and without it, you can often struggle to hold on to some of the simplest and most important things in life like the clothes on your back and the roof over your head. That being said, just because you find yourself struggling with money at some point in your life doesn’t mean that all is lost. The truth is that just about everyone deals with money troubles at some point in their lives and there are always things that can be done. With that in mind, here are a few ways to avoid falling into a pit of despair and panic if you end up having some trouble with your finances.

 

Get organized

 

If you’ve just found out that you’re in a worse financial position than you thought you were, it can be incredibly easy to start running around like a headless chicken in a total panic. However, it’s incredibly important that you avoid doing this and that you sit down and get organised. The first thing you need to do is to stake stock of your financial position and figure out a budget. That way you can know exactly what cutbacks you can make in order to start to get yourself into a more secure position without too much difficulty. 

 

Be disciplined

 

Of course, figuring out your budget and where you need to cut back is incredibly easy in theory, in reality, it’s a whole different ballgame. This is because getting your finances back in shape is often an incredibly long and difficult process. Because of this, it’s important that you stay as disciplined as possible and that you avoid falling into the common traps of becoming complacent or overconfident at any time. Keep things simple and make sure that you’re always aware of exactly how much money you’re spending at any given time. In reality, it’s the little purchases here and there that can make all the difference to your financial health.

 

Remember: there is always help out there

 

It’s easy to feel like pulling yourself out of financial quagmire is an impossible task and sometimes it really is something that you can’t do alone. However, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do it alone. There is always help out there from debt based charities to a bankruptcy lawyer. No matter what kind of situation you’re in, there’s no shame in needing to reach out to other people for help, whether it’s a professional, or simply a friend or family member.

Financial trouble can not only have a practical impact on your life, but it can also be incredibly damaging on an emotional and psychological level. Make sure that you’re thinking about the support that you might need in that direction as well. Don’t let money difficulties lead you down a path of feeling constantly anxious or worried and remember that there are always people that you can talk to about those kinds of things.

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