“Just because you are over Covid, doesn’t mean Covid is over.”
I just heard a woman sing this on a Tik Tok video and you know, she’s right.
UGH.. she is 100 percent correct.
OMG.. I am soooo over this pandemic!
Aren’t you?
I long to laugh with my friends again.
I want to be able to hang out at coffee shops, shop, dine, go to happy hour again and do these things without wearing a mask!
Right now I am able to do some of these things, but it just doesn’t feel the same.
And now that the weather is getting colder in the east and midwest, that means we will be forced into hibernation again for the most part until we see what this virus does and if we are any closer to a vaccine.
The thought of hunkering down for the winter, after pretty much hunkering down for the spring and summer, is not as desirable as it usually is. Add to that the reduction of sunlight, and we have the set up for depression and anxiety to hit all time highs.
By now we have watched everything there is to watch on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime, and we are sick of all the hate on social media.It’s enough to make the healthiest person feel stressed and depressed.
So what can we do to make ourselves feel better that is NOT harmful to us, such as self medicating with food, drugs or alcohol?
Try THESE THINGS if you want to Feel Good.
If you do, I’m betting you will be feeling good in 15 minutes or less.
Breathe
Sounds simple right? But when is the last time you took a really DEEP breath? The kind of inhale where your belly extends fully? Breathing is one of the quickest ways to get your mind, body and spirit back on track in an instant. The next time you are feeling stressed, anxious, angry, or even sad. Stop and take a big inhale. Hold it for a count of three and fully release the air from your lungs. Repeat this for at least a minute, and increase the time as you go. Concentrating on your breathing will have you feeling good in mere minutes.
Drink a Glass of Water
You would not believe how much hydration can help you feel better. Even mild dehydration can impair your brain function. If you are surviving on coffee, sugary drinks or even diet soda’s you might actually be causing more harm than good. Yes, it is liquid, but to get the full benefits of hydration, you should be drinking water. So next time you are feeling sluggish, foggy or down, grab a glass of water and down that. You should notice your energy return in minutes. If you don’t like the taste of water, then add a slice of lemon, or lime. Once a day, I add a packet of a high powered anti-oxidant powder to my water which helps to alkalize my body and is the equivalent to 4 servings of fruits and veggies with nothing artificial to harm my body. I feel energized within 10 minutes.
Move Your Body
Get up off the couch, or out of your chair and start moving your body. Stretch it. Shake it. Move it. You’ve heard Taylor Swift say “Shake it Off”.
Well, you really can shake off the stress and anxiety you are feeling.
Next time you are feeling tense, stand up and start shaking your arms and hands vigorously. You will start to feel the tension leaving your body. For added benefits, do something to move your body for at least 30 minutes a day. Take a walk, climb your stairs a few times, do an online yoga or Zumba class and keep the feel good energy flowing through to the rest of your day.
Focus on What is Going Right
Not what is going wrong.
This is a biggie. Our natural inclination as human beings is to immediately go the the negative. We can list the things that are going wrong in our lives in an instant and keep adding to the list. Then we can start a list of all the things we should have done and should have said, until we are “shoulding” ourselves to death.
And the more we concentrate on what is going wrong, the worse we feel. So if you want to feel good, try this instead: Keep a list of what is going right.
Start a list of what is going right in your life. It’s called gratitude. I start each day writing three things for which I am grateful and I have a notebook on my bed stand that is for this very purpose. At the end of a day, I pick up the book and look back at my day and list the good things that happened. The things I did to work toward my goals. The things I did to be kind to myself and to others. The good people I interacted with. The blessings in my life that day. It’s much easier to fall asleep in a state of gratitude and abundance and blessings than it is to lay your head down with the burdens of lack, worry and fear.
Do Something Nice for Someone
Sometimes the fastest way to feel better is to make someone else feel better. Think of someone who might like a phone call and pick up the phone and call them. If they don’t answer leave a voicemail. Just sending a friendly message of “I was thinking of you and thought I would give you a call to see how you are doing” will not only brighten someones day, but it will make you feel good too. Sending cards, or inviting someone out for a coffee or gathering friends for a zoom meeting might do the trick too. You might even offer to run errands for your elderly aunt or bake something nice and share it with a neighbor.
Doing something positive to lift up the spirits of someone else is a sure fire way to instantly feel good too. Pick up a copy of “How Can I Help?” for ideas on what to do or say to help a friend who might be struggling.
We have no idea how long this pandemic will last and it’s so easy to get down and depressed, but these things do help. And if you keep practicing them, you won’t be feeling so down all the time. Try a few or try them all and let me know how they are working for you. You truly can be just 15 minutes away from feeling good.
Sherrie Dunlevy- #Inspirationista, is an author, speaker, podcast host.
She is the founder of the the “Graduating Grief” and “ALL THINGS AWESOME” communities on Facebook, which are dedicated to LIVING a life of meaning, passion and impact, and shining a light on all the GOOD that exists in the world.
To order a copy of her best selling book “How Can I Help?” go to www.SherrieDunlevy.com/author.
To invite Sherrie to speak at your next event, conference or to book a “How Can I Help?”- Workshop at your business, hospital or school, contact Sherrie at SherrieDunlevy@gmail.com
Sherrie Dunlevy is a participant in the Amazon Services Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
