Who can’t use a few good scientific tips for de-stressing as we confront the coronavirus? Whether it’s the difficulty of working at home, being primarily confined to the house, addressing 24/7 childcare challenges, financial concerns related to loss of employment, or the justified worry about the trajectory of COVID-19, we all need to cope with uncertainty and new difficulties. York Technical College instructors and staff are here to help you keep your focus and well-being. Completing your program is more critical to your future than ever. Work is becoming transformed. Well-trained and qualified people will be critical to the rebuilding of the economy. We care and stand ready to help you reach your goal. Reach out and communicate with us.
Below is a list of proven techniques for self-care. The work of neuroscientists, biologists, and psychologists has provided essential insights so relevant for times like these.
Move. Start your day with stretching, yoga, or dancing. Energize your body and mind for the tasks ahead. Walking for even 15 minutes before you sit down at your home computer will transform your mood and get your blood circulating. Our bodies are built to move and thank us in myriad ways! Want the science? Exercise will lower your blood sugar and insulin levels, release endorphins to improve your mood, strengthen your heart and improve your circulation. Further, weight-bearing movement fortifies your bones, boosts the immune system, and makes you happier!
Go outside. If you can take your morning walk in a park or other green space, it can put your body into a state of meditation, thanks to a phenomenon known as “involuntary attention.” This type of attention, which allows for reflection, reduces stress hormones.
Scott Kelly, a NASA astronaut, spent nearly a year on one of the most solitary jobs possible—the International Space Station. His “tips on isolation” article, featured in the New York Times on March 21, is well worth reading. He relates how he craved the smells and sounds of birds, trees, and even mosquitoes! Scientists have documented that being around trees and nature reduced blood pressure and anxiety. In one study in Mind, 95% of those interviewed said their mood improved after spending time outside, changing from depressed, stressed, and anxious to more calm and balanced. Other studies by Ulrich, Kim, and Cervinka show that time in nature or even outdoor scenic photographs are associated with a positive mood, psychological well-being, meaningfulness, and vitality.
Schedule. Maintaining a plan will help you adjust to a different work-and-life home environment. It may be surprising, but the lack of a schedule is much more draining mentally, physically, and emotionally than any routine could ever be. The daily to-do list helps too.
Be in the moment. Schedule breaks. You might consider the Pomodoro method of time management. Relaxation exercises such as long, slow breathing, journaling, listening to music (without multitasking), and practicing a rhythmic activity such as running, drumming, or even chewing gum are beneficial. Clinical and sports psychologist Leah Lagos, PsyD, recommends several breathing techniques which allow us to stop and refocus.
Embrace. Communicate with your instructors and classmates, initiate online study groups, and find ways to connect with the rest of humanity. Facetime, Facebook, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, and the good old telephone – connect and reconnect. Try something new. Without a commute, you may have new time on your hands and take up new hobbies or finally research family history and locate new relatives. When was the last time you sent a favorite relative a real snail-mail letter?
Laugh. The age-old adage, “Laughter is the best medicine,” has a lot of truth. Science indicates it may be the most important de-stressor of all! When you laugh, your body releases endorphins making you more positive, happy, and confident. Laughter inhibits the release of stress hormones such as cortisol, dramatically relieving stress and anxiety. Laughter also prompts your body to release more disease-fighting antibodies.
“Once you start laughing, it forces you to feel better,” said Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, D.O., who adds that laughing decreases arterial inflammation and increases HDL, the “good” cholesterol.
So, whatever tickles your funny bone is good! Cat videos, SNL, YouTube—it’s all just what the doctor ordered. For more ideas: The 25 Best Comedies of the 21st Century, Ranked by IndieWire; 32 of the Funniest Books Ever Written, by Esquire; The 57 Best Netflix Stand-Up Comedy Specials, and the “five best Jewish jokes ever.” Or the classic laugh-out-loud movies: Monty Python’s Life of Brian, Airplane!, Austin Powers, Some Like It Hot, or The Naked Gun.
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