Uncertainty feeds anxiety, or at least it does so, in my case. When the pandemic started, I felt restless and anxious because my carefully structured routines were falling apart and I felt a loss of control. However, establishing a pattern helped me feel grounded. Here’s how I did it.
Creating a routine
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I sat down with a diary and wrote down the list of things I’d like to get done in a day. Right from making morning tea to doing my office work, I put it all down on a sticky note and pasted it near my desk. It helped focus and I also derived a sense of direction from it.
Eating on time
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I often tend to take meal times for granted. However, to my mother’s smug delight, I have realised that eating on time is beneficial both for the body and mind. There was a phase when I would end up eating lunch at 4pm, which would affect my digestive system and also hamper my mood. But ever since I set up proper meal times, not only has it helped my body but it has also helped me become more efficient.
Going to bed on time
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I can hear my parents’ voice telling me that they were right about how going to bed early can help our overall well-being. It won’t be wrong to say that millennials are infamous for staying up till the wee hours of the morning…probably contemplating life and endlessly scrolling through Instagram. When I forced myself to fix my sleep cycle, it not just helped me get a good night’s rest but also made it easier for me to follow the rest of my routine.
Mundane chores can be therapeutic
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If there’s anything the pandemic has taught me, it’s how to find happiness in the mundane. Doing simple chores like washing clothes, doing the dishes, and cleaning the house helped me organise my thoughts. So instead of piling up laundry or leaving a sink full of dirty dishes, I tried to manage my household chores on an everyday basis.
These are some of things that I did to help maintain a sense of control and certainty in extremely uncertain times. While it didn’t magically cure my anxiety away, it did help me stay grounded and focus on the tasks at hand. If you have had any similar experiences, do let us know in the comments.
Disclaimer: These views reflect the author’s personal experiences, not the opinions of a medical practitioner. If you experience mental health issues, contact a therapist or psychiatrist.
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