ECQ SEASON 2 IN NCR: Ways to ease its pressure on mental health

 

All of a sudden, it feels like March 2020 all over again.

10,000+ cases. Just when we're starting to pick up the pieces and life is starting to go back to normal, when families and livelihoods who have fallen casualty to the pandemic and nearly 1- year long lockdown are beginning to see the silver lining again, another ECQ for 2021 was imposed; they say it's for a week only, but at this point, we never know. A majority of Filipinos will once again face the mental, spiritual, and financial turmoil that the rise in cases and the lockdown will bring.

Last week has been pretty tough. It was already starting to go great for my business, my life, and the people around me, and all of a sudden, this. That dreary feeling of hopelessness is back and it just seems stronger than ever. Many times, I catch myself wondering "when will this ever end?" I just don't care about the travels and niceties of life that I've experienced pre-COVID- 19 anymore; I just want this to end and for the suffering of many to end, including myself.

One year into the pandemic and still, we are walking in the dark. And we are all weary not only physically and financially, but mentally as well. Some are holding on, but some might not make it anymore.

If you're like me who's feeling extra tired, fed up, and hopeless due to our current situation, here's a little handbook for you to somehow help you ease the mental stress of this second lockdown; here are little things that you can do day after day to keep yourself sane while we wait for this nightmare to end.

1. EXERCISE

- A lot of people choose not to exercise at home thinking that it is another exertion and stress that one can't afford to have considering the many stresses they're facing each day since the pandemic began, but that's a wrong belief! Exercise helps release pheromones or happy hormones that can make you feel more energetic, livelier, and more productive. Back in February 2020, I have enrolled in a gym again and I just felt happier, more energized, and my head was much clearer when I started exercising normally again.

2. SLEEP MORE

- One of the best things I did this weekend was to sleep more. After a very stressful week, I decided to sleep in last weekend and sleep whenever my body is asking for it; and it felt good. Sleep can do a lot of wonders to your energy, mind, and health; sleep is regeneration and having enough of it ensures that your system is functioning normally and healthily. On the flip side, lack of sleep can contribute to more stress, poor health, and higher susceptibility to diseases. 

3. CREATE A SAFE SPACE AT HOME

- Because of the prolonged and continuous lockdowns, homes are becoming places of negative energies; negative energies that we can easily shake off somewhere before coming home are now being contained in homes because not everyone can go out-and it's not advisable to go out.

Try to create your own safe space at home; it can be a small corner in the house, your room, by the garage, veranda, or balcony. Your safe space doesn't have to be grand, it just has to be a spot that you will associate with positive energy and where you will only do feel- good things and think of happy thoughts. So whenever you feel stressed or weary, retreat to your safe space and heal. Spruce up your space with candles, your favorite books, diffusers, a small table with a plant, DIY tea and coffee materials, led lights, etc.-the possibilities are endless!

4. CREATE A STRESS- REDUCING RITUAL

- Whenever I feel stressed, I just light up a candle, pray, write down things I'm grateful for, utter a personal prayer, and do a heart-to-heart talk with God. After an hour of doing this, I usually feel lighter and more hopeful. I sometimes do tapping exercises, breathing exercises, and quick meditations to help clear my mind.

Personal rituals can be very helpful when it comes to combating stress and the best part is it's completely up to you to design this ritual, giving you at least a sense of control over a certain moment or part of your life; and that control, no matter how little, means power and helps you stay a bit more hopeful.

5. DECLUTTER AND CLEAN YOUR SPACE

- Tidying indeed is life- changing, as Marie Kondo has implied. Whenever I feel down, I sometimes resort to cleaning my space because a clean space is optimal for good energy to flow. I also declutter because it gives me the feeling and sense of starting all over again, which helps boost my morale and mind. Decluttering also leads to donating, which makes me feel even better because I'm helping people.

And I don't know about you, but I can only say that my space is truly clean if I have vacuumed it. That's why whenever I will have my condo and house cleaned, a vacuum cleaner is mandatory. It's like every piece of dust and dirt, and the negative energy that go along with them are gone and sucked into the abyss of the vacuum haha!

After getting a Beko fridge for my mom, I'm now looking at their vacuum cleaners. Because it looks like I'm going to stay at my mom-in-law's house for another year; it's a sizable house and for me to be able to clean it efficiently, I need a vacuum cleaner!

Beko PowerClean is a cordless vacuum cleaner designed for optimal, powerful cleaning. The 2-in-1 design allows it to be converted from a regular vacuum to a handheld one, plus has ActiFlex technology that enables deep, corner-to-corner cleaning including hard to reach areas. It has a working time of 45 minutes when fully charged and available in the colors gray or green.

Beko is available in leading appliance stores and on Lazada. Visit their Lazmall HERE.

I hope this little guidebook on easing the pressure of ECQ season 2 in NCR on our mental health has helped you somehow.

Hang in there, Beshies. This, too, shall pass.