We’re living in unprecedented times. Everything from social media to news can make us feel worried and overwhelmed. So when things tend to get a little stressful, here are all the steps I take to anchor and calm myself down.
1. Take a break from social media
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Social media can be quite a toxic place. One moment you might be posting fun Instagram posts and Stories and the other moment, you could be drowning in an existential crisis. When that tends to happen, I log out of my social media accounts and instead focus on reading a book or watching a show I like. This helps me take a break from the sad news cycle too.
2. Make art
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Art can be therapeutic. While I am no artist, I like using colouring books, drawing a mandala, or just painting. It not only helps me focus on the task at hand but also helps me stay distracted from everything that’s happening around me. When I am not in the mood to draw, I consider writing or poetry or a short story, which helps me immerse myself in another world.
3. Take a day off from work
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Quite often, we feel guilty for taking a day off from work for the sake of our mental health. But we forget that our mental health is as important as our physical wellness. Which is why, whenever I feel the need to rest and recuperate, I take a sick leave. It not only helps me feel better but it also improves my productivity at work the next day.
4. Go on a walk
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A leisurely walk around the neighbourhood uplifts my mood like nothing else. I don’t see it as a form of exercise, which helps me enjoy it all the more. All I do is listen to music and walk in sparsely crowded lanes that are lined with trees. It gets the endorphins flowing and also helps me soak in the beauty of nature.
These are some of the steps I take to preserve my mental health when life gets too overwhelming. However, these solutions work for me and might not be applicable to everyone else. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to our mental health issues. Also, if you are dealing with a serious issue like depression or anxiety, you need professional help to get to the core of it. So while temporary solutions may help you get through a day or two, they can’t take the place of professional therapy.
Lead Image Credit: Dharma Productions and Instagram/priyankachopra
