Article Written and Submitted by: Gwen Payne
If your family has been spending more time at home due to COVID-19, you may feel like the end of this pandemic can’t come soon enough. Tensions can easily boil over when you are spending so much time together, so you should first practice some compassion with your family, your feelings and yourself. The Parkey Group invites you to embrace these tips to help curb some of that stress and tension in your home.
Organize Your Home
There really is such a thing as bad energy in your home. So if you feel like your family has been fighting more than usual, take a good look around to see if you need to take proactive steps toward a positive home environment. If your home is cluttered and dirty, spend some time cleaning it up. You may also want to open some windows to allow fresh air to circulate around your home.
For even more of that clean air, you can also think about sprucing up your outdoor spaces with something like new step stones or furnishings. Creating a relaxation space in your backyard can be so beneficial when you’re spending more time at home, as Total Wellness explains. You can reduce stress levels, feel more energetic, and even enjoy better brain function—all from a little more outdoor time.
Get Your Family Moving
If your home is in order, it may be time to check in with your family’s at-home routines. That’s because sedentary habits can cause you to feel bored, stressed, depressed and anxious. You may also find it harder to sleep when you aren’t getting the physical activity that your minds and bodies crave. So carve out some time during each day to get moving.
Exercise doesn’t need to be complicated. You can take your family for a nice stroll around the block, go for a bike ride, or do some backyard yoga.
Prioritize Your Self-Care
So exercise is only one form of self-care. Since times are so stressful right now, you may need to add a little extra self-care and tension-relief to your family’s health and wellness routines. Adjust your diet to reduce stress levels, do daily meditation, and make sure everyone in your household is getting sufficient sleep.
Put Down Your Phones
Do you start your day scrolling through social media? If so, you could be setting yourself up for even more stress and anxiety. Per Vulcan Post, research on screen usage indicates that people who check social media, or emails, first thing in the morning tend to have higher levels of anxiety and stress throughout the day. This is because so many online resources are also sources of news that can be depressing or worrisome. So try filling your morning routine with something more productive, like some light yoga, calming meditation or a few minutes practicing gratitude.
Talk to a Professional
It’s been a rough 18 months, there’s no doubt about it. And more than likely everyone in your household is carrying emotional baggage from the pandemic. Depending on you or your family’s situation, counseling may be in order. Talking with a trained therapist can help you work through your emotions and will give you the tools you need to manage this and other life upheavals. Plus, most counselors are offering telehealth opportunities, which makes it easier and safer to connect.
Feeling stressed and overwhelmed right now is actually pretty normal. After all, the times we are living in seem like anything but normal. So have some compassion for yourself and have some patience as you work on improving your family’s routines and lowering your stress in self-isolation.