Stressful, anxious times can create extreme actions and reactions. These times will produce more babies, more divorces, more family abuse, more pressure on suicide prevention lines, more Zoom office and family meetings, more over walked pets and more pain and sadness from losing a family member or friend to the virus. Add to that prevailing political tensions and you get a recipe for big time disaster. But for some who choose it, these times can produce an opportunity for building relationships and positive habits and attitudes.
If we see no options, become inflexible, the welled up pain becomes anger shown in self-defeating thoughts and actions. We become victims, putting ourselves and perhaps others at risk.
But if we learn to stay calm, kind, open and show up with the best version of ourselves consistently, we and those around us can move forward with grace and ease.
Here are 10 important ideas to keep your energy and attitude up to develop confidence and for thriving in these Covid 19 times.
1) Stay on a regular schedule. When you mess up your body’s circadian rhythms you compromise your lymph system, which detoxifies your body as you sleep and negatively impacts your endocrine system. The endocrine system regulates hormones, fatigue levels, stress and mood. Organize your daily schedule. Use your to-do list for efficiency and sanity. Make your calls, build your data base, talk to more people, do your on line studies, remember to eat, take stretch breaks, etc. Your brain needs stimulation, but what it needs in times of dramatic change is stability.
2) Sleep 7-8 hours. Go to sleep and wake up at approximately the same times. Sleeping on your left side has shown to detoxify most efficiently. In times of change/stress, this is even more important.
If you are a nap taker and enjoy your coffee, try a Nappachino. Enjoy your cup of coffee just before your nap time. Set an alarm for a 25 minute nap. It takes that long for the caffeine to kick in. Then arise to work or play without brain fog. Cool idea?!
3) Eat well. And drink a lot of water. Mediterranean diet. Supplement vitamins and minerals such as fish oils, nitric oxide (adds oxygen to your blood) Lecithin as an anti inflammatory. If you don’t get outdoors much, supplement with vitamin D for bone growth and metabolism. Support your immune system and keep energy up. Minimize junk foods, especially processed foods even though they are easier to prepare and they do serve a calming purpose. These days, your body needs you to make good food choices. Serotonin (feel good neurotransmitter) is produced 90% in the intestine and determines mood. 100 million brain cells are in the gut (ie. Gut feelings) Good nutrition at breakfast plus probiotics are proving a great way to start the day mentally and physically.
4) Exercise daily. Running deals best with anxiety, as it allows the limbic part of the brain to relax. Walk. Do something. Exercise enables the lymph and endocrine systems to function better and produce more inflammation fighting T cells. Detoxifying and having more and healthier T cells are needed always, but now, particularly.
Aside from these endorphins, also are endocannabinoids, feel good neurotransmitters, triggered by exercise and communal sharing. With exercise your brain becomes more sensitive to any pleasure that activates this endocannabinoid system; it can take in more joy.
5) Socially stay in touch. The need for community, the need to be heard, for human kindness is essential for stability and sanity. Use any of the social Zoom like platforms, to stay connected with those you can’t put your arms around. Contact past schoolmates and reminisce. Most folks are doing well…share their experiences. Some are suffering. If you can’t solve their problems, at least you can be there to listen. It’s a time for support.
6) Learn something new. Something that you’ve wanted to do, something that takes you out of your comfort zone. Create a younger brain in the process! By the way, to save your vision: While you’re on the computer, use the “20-20-20 Rule.” When looking at your screens, take a break every 20 minutes, look away for 20 seconds, and turn your attention to something at least 20 feet away.
7) Start the day writing down 5 things, at least, for which you’re grateful. Then watch how much more energetically your day starts. Go out of your way to be even kinder than usual to others. Practice Random Acts of Kindness daily. This creates internal flows of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin-good feelings for them and you.
8) Eliminate negative self-talk. UCLA and other long-term studies have shown that repetitive negative thoughts lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s, let alone, self-sabotage and low confidence. When you become aware of negative thoughts, change those thoughts to positive or happy ones. Tune into something funny to trigger laughter, focus on a painting, concentrate on music around you. Shorten your time in negative moments. This will become a habit that will automatically allow you to be your best more of the time.
9) Let go of those things over which you have no control. Learn and practice “letting go.” Learn to relax. It’s vital. When you can relax deeply, you can let go of eating urges, control pain, make your sphere of influence calls, learn faster and perform at your best.
10) Learn self hypnosis. Really. What controls your thoughts and actions? What you put into your brain. Is it time to reset your direction and get focused? Especially in these unique times, you have the opportunity to learn to manage the stresses and anxieties of today’s reality, while growing your business, improving your health and relationships. Hypnosis is a catalyst that allows you to make changes faster and easier.
I hope something(s) here makes a positive difference for you. Please share. Thanks.
Here’s to you thriving in these covid-19 times.
Barry
818-769-4300
Int’l 001-818-769-4300
11684 Ventura Blvd. #747
Studio City, CA 91604
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