Stress Awareness Month Has Been Pretty Stressful

Hello everyone! Wow, we are almost at the end of April - a month that was so stressful, I forgot to release my blog on managing stress for Stress Awareness Month which, funnily enough, was April! Oh the irony!

Ok. Big breath. How are you? No really, how are you coping? If you’ve been working from home or limiting your interaction with people for a few weeks now (as I know many of you have), you’ve probably experienced a roller coaster of emotions – everything from laziness (no shaming here!) and pure glee (how good is sleeping in?!), to unexplained bursts of frustration and anger at the smallest things…like a dirty coffee cup… or a hole in a sock…

I hope you’re starting to figure out what triggers these emotions and identify some coping mechanisms that work for you. If, however, you are struggling a bit and simply can’t face another Netflix show or clean one more surface, here are my top 4 tips for coping with stress when your yoga studio/ float studio/infrared sauna is closed and you’re stuck at home… all. day. 

1.     Slow down

Many of us are experiencing similar feelings to grief – grief for our pre-COVID-19 life and the loss of our routines. This is perfectly normal and you are not alone feeling this way. Be kind to yourself, be patient - you do not have to do what anyone else is doing in isolation. So what if Lucy from accounts learned how to speak French whilst working from home? Go her! So what if Suzy from your networking group launched a successful “how to survive COVID-19” e-book that she wrote in three days… whilst juggling…and doing cross fit, good for her!  So what if that chick from Clear Mind Studio spent some solid time baking breads and making cakes (FYI it was the first cake I’ve ever made and I burned the edge… and I used a bread maker that has been in my shed for three years unused), go me!

Good for them (me) but these people are not YOU and you do not need to be doing anything other than exactly what you are doing. They are doing things that they love, that they have the emotional and physical time for and that helps them to cope. Your experience doesn’t (and shouldn’t!) have to look like anyone else’s. 

Do something you love - and if today that’s sitting on the couch watching Netflix eating peanut butter from a jar, that’s fantastic. If tomorrow it’s training for a marathon, that’s fantastic too. We are all different and it’s great to be different! You do you and be you, just make whatever you are doing is something that you have the emotional time and energy for and it’s not going to be detrimental to your mental health. 

2.     Stay active

Now, more than ever, it’s important to move our bodies but for many of us, the idea of starting something new might just be too much. If that sounds like you, why not do something your body knows and loves and makes you feel good? Something easy like walking or an online class with your favourite studio/gym (erhrm, did we mention we are offering online classes? No? Then we won’t).  If you are struggling with motivation, how about focussing on how you normally feel after a walk or class - you feel good, don’t you? Concentrating on that feeling can help you drum up the motivation to stay active and whoever said they regretted doing that yoga class or going for a walk?

3.     Look at the positives

Recently, we ran a Community Coffee Catch Up Zoom Chat with Jade from the Fulfilment Project. The focus was on self-care and keeping mentally healthy during COVID-19. As sometimes happens, we got a little off topic chatting about what COVID-19 and isolation has taught us and the good things to come out of it. Most of us realised that we had more time to do the things we love but tell ourselves were too busy for. Personally, I have enjoyed the opportunity to slow down and revisit what brings me joy, settles my mind and fills my heart. For me, that’s cooking lovely meals, reading and running – what’s it for you?

If you are struggling to find the positive at the moment (and we all have days like that), why not start by writing a gratitude list of all the things you were grateful for pre-COVID-19 and/or all the things you are grateful for now. You could also write a note (it’s up to you whether you send it), to someone you appreciate or are thankful to have in your life. Your kind gesture could be just what someone else needs too.

4.     Connection

While we can’t physically be together at the moment, it’s important to stay connected to those around you and it will be really important in the transition out of isolation too. Connection doesn’t have to mean being physically close; it can mean feeling/creating a sense of belonging. Make everyone feel like they belong in your life and you belong in theirs.  Why not catch-up with your friends via Zoom or Facetime? You could send a text, an emoji, a TikTok video or phone a friend and see how/what they are doing. You could send your mum/dad/boss/neighbour/bestie some flowers or a card – it will be so appreciated!

Connections matter. Take the time to recognise and appreciate yours. You never know who might need it today.

Speaking of connection, we have received some lovely notes from you, our friends and supporters, telling us that you can’t wait to get back to the studio – thank you for your kind words! We can’t wait to get back either and to see all of your lovely faces and hear your stories about what kept you going. In the meantime, we hope to see you at one of our online classes (ok, we mentioned it) soon or connecting with us on our socials (Instagram and Facebook).

Until then, stay safe and well and sane. We are thinking of you.