To be totally honest, I haven’t been this stressed out since I ended my most recent long-term relationship. The fear of uncertainty can weigh heavily and it doesn’t help knowing that so many around me are just as worried. Working around that stress can be tough, and while I’m definitely not here to pretend I have all the answers, I can share what has helped me quiet my mind amidst the pandemic and crises we face today.
6 ways I quiet my mind
Cook a new meal
Cooking a new meal requires quite a good bit of my attention. I have to
- stop,
- pick out a recipe,
- read the ingredients,
- make sure I have them,
- read the instructions,
- follow through the instructions,
- and best of all, enjoy my meal
It’s a pretty therapeutic process, and allows me to focus on something other than all that’s going on in the world.
Go for a hike
There are so many reasons why hiking (or just a long walk) is helpful when I’m trying to find my joy again. Like I mentioned in my last blog on managing stress, fresh air does wonders. The vitamin d, the deep breaths, the exercise. Maybe even the act of throwing myself into new surroundings. All of these things are calming and help me relax (even if just for a few minutes a day).
Talk to a loved one
IDK about you, but I have different types of conversations with the different people in my life when I need to quiet my mind. I call one person when I need a comic relief. Another person when I need sympathy. And someone else when I just need someone to keep it real with me. It’s so helpful to be able to talk about the things going on with people who get me.
Write down what I’m grateful for
Speaking of people who get me, my dad is to thank for this little tip. Any time I call him sad about something, he reminds me that there are people in this world who have it much worst. Sometimes, he’ll flat out tell me that I’m healthy and safe which is something some people pray for. It really does help me, especially when things are going horribly wrong, to remember what God has blessed me with. Even when my life feels like it’s turned upside down, he’s blessing one of my loved ones and that is enough to help me push through.
Take a break from social media
This is probably one of the best (and hardest) things I do to quiet my mind when the world feels overwhelming. I say it’s one of the hardest because, well, I’m a social media manager so being on social is literally my livelihood. But, there are ways to get my job done without sacrificing my mental help (hello Sprout Social).
Taking a break from social media is helpful for obvious reasons – you stop yourself from seeing content 24/7 and you get more time in your day to focus on doing things that actually make you happy.
Prayer
Not gonna lie, I’m kinda disappointed that this ended up being the last thing on my list. But in honor of honesty, it’s also often times the last thing I try in real life too! Sometimes I feel like my problems are too small to pray about. Other times I feel like they’re too big. But often I’m reminded that nothing is too big or too small for God. Even if my prayer is just for peace or a good night’s sleep, it’s helpful in my experience.
Taking a break from social media gives you more time in your day to focus on doing things that actually make you happy.
I hope that these tips help you quiet your mind, manage your days a little better and find a bit of joy, even during the pandemic. I’m no expert, but this is what works for me so I figured I’d share. If you think one of your ways of managing the pandemic would be helpful to others, leave a note in the comments for them to see! Love you dearly.
