If you’ve been feeling a bit like a shaken-up cola bottle lately, you’re not alone.
Between the pandemic, the protests, looming economic uncertainties, not to mention the contracted social environment and turning your home into a workplace, it's all gotten a bit intense.
Irritability, sleep problems, headaches and racing thoughts are all signs that you need to de-stress. Here are some ideas to help:
Meditate
The most obvious tactic is usually the best.
Many may scoff at meditation, or may even find the practice a bit intimidating, but it’s really as simple as closing your eyes and being mindful of your breathing.
As little as 15 minutes a day can do wonders for your overall mood and ability to focus.
If you don't know where to start, don't worry, there are apps for it. Check out Calm and Headspace, both of which provide an excellent entry to guided meditation.
There's also no shortage of guides online, with plenty of free guided meditation routines on YouTube.
Change your environment
If you’ve been hunched over your home work desk for half the day, it’s normal to feel like your thoughts are contracting around you. The hours spent slouching over your laptop can also take their toll on your body, leading to cramped shoulders and backaches.
Take your laptop and move over to your couch and sit back as you work. Take your work to the kitchen or by the window. The simplest change of posture and environment can have huge de-stressing benefits.
Go for a walk
If you’ve done the above and steel feel the Hyde clawing at your Jekyll, maybe it’s time to go for a walk.
Go for a stroll around your neighborhood, try to observe what’s around you instead of getting lost in thoughts. Carry a notebook and jot down your observations.
Of course, exercising helps, and if you can make room in your day for a 15-minute run around your neighborhood or a 10-minute high intensity workout, you'll notice the world beaming at you again.
Learn a new instrument
Maybe it's time to remove the guitar you've stashed atop your wardrobe, wipe away the dust and nail that classic blues shuffle.
There are a range of benefits to learning a new instrument – from enhanced discipline to reduced stress and improved brain function.
Whether you’d like to learn the guitar, piano, oud or drums, there are some great resources online to guide you on your musical journey. Just don’t be vexed if you can’t seem to nail down your favourite Pink Floyd riff or Debussy melody in the beginning. Remember, practise makes perfect and the fun is in the process.
Unplug
Maybe finding your calm could be as simple as taking 10-20 minutes away from all electronics.
It’s normal to feel all over the place in this hyper-connected age, because, well, we are.
Mute your phone and throw it under a pillow, close your laptop, kill the music and just take some time to yourself.
If you have an egg-timer, use it. Just decide you won’t be interacting with anyone or anything until the timer rings.
