Do you feel like your life has been overtaken by the coronavirus? So much has changed in our collective reality in a few short months, and it seems we can’t escape news of doom and gloom.
And if you’re really worried about things, it can take a toll. Unfortunately, this can create a vicious cycle that makes you worry even more. You start out worried about your health, and then chronic stress begins to weaken your immune system and you have even more to worry about.
Once you’re in the cycle, it can be difficult to get out, but there are a few ways you can minimize your worries about coronavirus.
Get Informed, Not Overloaded
There’s information about coronavirus around every corner and it’s all anyone can talk about, so it’s easy to experience information overload without even trying. But if you want to avoid it, you have to actively try.
You can start by swapping out the nightly news for browsing daily headlines from your favorite news sources. And if you’re getting too much information about COVID-19 on social media, limit your time spent there too. It’s probably not high-quality information anyway, so it’s best to avoid it.
Pay Attention To Positive News
Visit the Good News Network’s website or subscribe to John Krasinski’s YouTube Channel “Some Good News.” These are two popular sources of good news, but there are more. Find a source that helps remind you of the good in the world because it’s always there. And when you focus on positivity, you get more positivity. The good news won’t exactly change your risk factors, but they can reduce stress.
Eat Healthier
If you’ve gone to the grocery store lately, you might have noticed that the store shelves have been picked clean of almost all processed foods. This makes sense because we tend to reach for comfort foods when we’re feeling sad or vulnerable. But these are the exact foods we should avoid if we want to stop emotional eating and strengthen the immune system. So instead of reaching for a processed meal, consider cooking fresh at home. Not only will it give you something to do, but the natural fruits and vegetables will help keep your immune system strong.
Limit Alcohol
So many people are overdoing it on alcohol during this pandemic, and this is likely to take its toll. Not only can alcohol overconsumption lead to alcoholism, but it can also weaken your immune system. Chronic alcohol consumption over time can even increase your risk of developing lung disease or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). And if you’ve struggled with alcoholism before the pandemic, it’s going to be even more important to keep your sobriety.
Coronavirus has everyone on edge, and for good reason, but there are things we can do to keep stress levels down. It’s true that there’s a lot of uncertainty right now, but we can make things feel more manageable by focusing on what we can control.
Now is the time to focus on your health and emotional wellbeing.
Author Bio
Rachel is a freelance content writer located in San Diego, California. Over the course of her career, she has written a variety of health, parenting, and fitness articles. In her free time, she enjoys running along the beach with her two puppies and practicing yoga.
