Healthy Ways to Cope with Stress in a Pandemic
Covid-19 has completely changed our normal, and with so much more work to do, we are all feeling the negative affects the pandemic has had on our mental health. Our school experiences have changed, we cannot have large gatherings with our friends and family, most of our favorite activities are impacted by social distancing guidelines, and we are worried about the virus. Life has become more stressful, and without knowing positive stress relief strategies, it can become overwhelming. Some of us feel our stress may be invalidated if we express it, and others just are not sure how to cope with stress in a positive way. Wherever your stress concerns lie, we are here to help!
Sometimes, it feels like the easiest way to deal with our stress is to “bottle it up,” but this can do much more damage to our brains and bodies than we realize. We all deal with stress differently, but I am sure all of us have been in a situation where we may not feel comfortable talking about how we feel, so we avoid it instead. When this happens, you may notice a change in your mood, finding yourself more irritable and having a hard time focusing. There might also be negative physical affects too, such as more intense headaches, upset stomachs and a lack of sleep. Unhealthy coping strategies are often developed when we are young, and it can be hard to change them later in life, so to avoid these negative health effects, we suggest revisiting Californian Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris’ stress relief playbook! For more in-depth tips and tricks on managing stress, visit her playbook here!
After reviewing Dr. Harris’ playbook, you might be feeling more empowered in dealing with your own stress but may still want some help on getting started—have no fear, your FitQuest team is here! No matter how old you are, stress will often come in the worst moments, and the pandemic has shown us this. Whether it is your younger sibling, your guardian, or yourself, having the proper tools for stress management will start the process of making you all feel better. Before starting our exploration into stress relief, it helps to review our three FitQuest rules for dealing with stress! The first rule is to avoid harming oneself physically or emotionally, the second is to not cause emotional or physical harm to others and the third is to refrain from destroying objects. With these rules in mind, we can begin tackling our stress in a positive way!
The most important parts of your daily life are connected to your mental health. This is why stress can take such a toll on your physical health too! When you recognize you are feeling stressed, look at these factors and how they relate to what you are feeling: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, mindfulness, your support system, and mental health. What you eat, how often you stop to take a deep breathe, and even walking out into the sunshine for a few minutes can all affect the stress you feel. Read more about how these factors play a role in our stress in Dr. Harris’ playbook section: Six Stress Busting Activities for Kids! Looking at each of these factors in your life and using them as a tool for stress relief is a form of self-care. We hear that word often, but do not always prioritize it as much as we should. Always make time in your day for self-care, no matter how small the activity!
One easy way to make self-care a part of your day is knowing what you can do to make your day better. Just as every person has their own unique interests, experiences, and identities, we all feel and handle stress in a unique way. What may help your best friend, may not help you too. A key factor in successfully tackling stress is knowing what works for the individual experiencing the stress. Whether it is riding your horses, writing in your journals, or spending a healthy amount of time on YouTube, we can see how important recognizing a person’s passion is when dealing with their stress. I recommend making a “Stress Buster” list at home, in which you can write down all your favorite activities. In times of stress, you can look to this list for a calming and/or fun activity.
Zero to Three director Julia Yeary shares the role of individuality in stress relief and how important it is—for more information on this relationship, read her article. For more helpful tips for combatting stress in positive ways, here are a few more valuable resources to help ensure you stay happy, confident, and stress-free in the pandemic:
Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic – Child Trends
How LGBTQ youth can cope with anxiety and stress during COVID-19 – The Trevor Project
Top 12 tips to relieve COVID-19 stress | MUSC | Charleston, SC
Manage stress for health – Coronavirus COVID-19 Response (ca.gov)