The question is how do we revitalize our personal lives in a stressful world? As if the daily hustle of life weren’t already tough, this past year has raised the bar. Each day we have been challenged in navigating this pandemic. To say nothing of the pressure and burdens that have cost us tremendously, it is important to be mindful of our health. As a matter of fact, the answer is as simple as how healthy we keep our mind and body.
Avoid the Internet Reading Trap
First of all, high social media usage can cause stress and anxiety. A simple Google search will show you that there are several search results about the negative impact of social media. Take for example the Facebook algorithm. It will bring you more of the stories you consume on its network. Inevitably, choosing a questionable article can change the type of posts that you might see in your news feed. Once you go down that rabbit hole, it may be difficult to change the reading habits that you’ve begun.
Furthermore, time spent on the Internet may also kill your productivity. It can become a crutch where you mindlessly scroll, realizing too late that hours have flown by and you haven’t completed your tasks.
Therefore, the best line of defense would be to limit your time on social media and the Internet. Begin by changing your habits and setting the timer. Over the course of three weeks, lower your time spent here and set goals to place your focus on projects that you value.
Moreover, choose better reading material. Read a novel for pleasure or seek knowledge from self-improvement books. Exchange the often times stressful pursuit of the mindless scroll for reading with the purpose of destressing. In my opinion, escaping reality for an hour or two in a novel is a good use of anyone’s time. As a result, you will revitalize your mind and ease the stress from a chaotic day.
Try Mindful Movement to alleviate Stress and Anxiety
Secondly, physical activity relieves stress and anxiety. It stimulates the release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin; thereby, raising your mood. Exercising helps lower the strain and tension of our hectic lives. Recently, I’ve included mindful movement to my workout regimen. I am very happy to share the results of this life-changing experience.
To begin, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure several years ago as a result of job-related stress and anxiety. My doctor has prescribed medication with varied results. Despite retiring from teaching, my stress level has not been completely resolved. So, I decided to rededicate myself to some type of physical exercise. While working on my post in January this year, I renewed my interest in yoga and mindfulness meditation. Because of the pandemic, I chose to look for enlightenment on YouTube.com and discovered Brain Education TV where I found a video on high blood pressure.
Specifically, mindful movement includes a series of exercises focusing on different areas of the body. The instructor teaches breathing and movement to move or release energy and blockage. I have saved many of the videos concerning the areas that I needed to work on. Over a period of six weeks, I have made it a habit to revitalize through exercise for 20 minutes and as a result my flexibility and strength have greatly improved. For that reason, I look forward to my exercise time as it has given me much more energy and a vastly improved mood.
Final Thoughts
Lastly, I encourage you to revitalize your mind and body as we navigate through this stressful pandemic. Just as we eat nutritious foods to grow healthy and strong, we need to feed our mind and body with all manner of good content to keep them strong and fit. So, read to keep your mind full of positive thoughts and optimism. Move your body to stay in good physical condition and keep your spirits up. Most important, remember to mask up, stay healthy, and believe that we will get through this soon!
