Hello Again, it’s been awhile. I’ve been busy writing, although obviously not blogging! Fortunately, other people still are, and I’d liked to share with you a special post written for you by the lovely April Meyers of Mind Body Health Solution.

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Using Meditation to Manage COVID-19 Anxiety

April Meyers

www.mindbodyhealthsolution.com

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on global mental health. A July 2020 KFF Tracking poll showed that more than half of Americans feel that COVID anxiety and stress has harmed their mental health. The most-reported effects include sleep disruptions, disordered eating or changes in appetite, more frequent temper flare-ups, and an increase in headaches and stomachaches. Added to health concerns are worries like job loss and social upheaval, while social isolation is another major stress contributor.

However, individuals are not powerless against these effects. Meditation, among other stress management techniques, can reduce the impact of stress and anxiety. To better understand what’s happening and how you can cope, read the following information:

How COVID is Contributing to Anxiety

Pandemic-related anxiety is based on several contributing factors. These are the most commonly reported:

● Contracting COVID: Many people are worried about becoming ill with the novel coronavirus. The concern may be for themselves, but it is more likely to be for a loved one.

● Disrupted schedules: Changes in routines and a lack of structure are unsettling for many individuals because they contribute to a feeling of things being out of control; Verywell Mind suggests trying to conform to a daily regimen to maintain a sense of normalcy.

● Social isolation: People are naturally social animals, and forced isolation is taking its toll on millions. A lack of social interaction is associated with increased loneliness, a predictor of worsening mental and physical health outcomes.

● Loss of income: Roughly 22 million American jobs were lost to the pandemic, and experts expect it to take years for the economy to recover. That's a lot of households worrying about paying for housing, food, and medical costs.

How Meditation Reduces Stress and Tension

When stress becomes too much to bear, the body and mind look for ways to leave it all behind. Much like the brief reprieve offered by mesmerizing stories and films, meditation offers a pathway to temporarily escape from worries. One of its advantages over some other escapism methods, however, is that it also affects the physiology of your body by lowering blood pressure and slowing the heart rate. Paired with yoga, it can also encourage better sleep habits, which is one of the main complaints of those affected by COVID anxiety.

The acceptance fostered through meditation opens the mind to new perspectives and gives you another way of looking at situations in a more positive light. The benefits of positivity are connected with improvements to both physical and emotional health. That helps explain why mindfulness-based therapy effectively manages depression and anxiety and helps to minimize relapse incidences among patients.

How You Can Maximize the Benefits of Your Mediation Practice

There are several ways to increase the health benefits of meditation. Creating a vibrant and refreshing space for your home meditation practice is an excellent place to start. Remove clutter from areas where you spend the most time. It causes distractions and chips away at your ability to stay focused and productive, both of which can contribute to increased stress levels. Having a clean and organized home also reduces risks associated with illness, which are significant contributors to COVID anxiety.

Open the windows to let some fresh air in when you meditate, too. This has multiple purposes. First, the fresh air is good for your health. It helps encourage a connection with nature that can speed healing. It also leads to better sleep habits, an area where stress is likely to strike. There are also COVID-specific benefits. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends opening windows to reduce the number of virus particles in indoor air and cut down on rates of disease transmission.

You might also add some houseplants to help keep the air in your space cleaner and provide bonus stress reduction, and at least keep your curtains open when you can’t open the windows. Natural light is a simple and effective mood-booster.

Mindful meditation offers a natural healing modality that can help reduce stress and anxiety. At the same time, it promotes positive changes to physical and emotional wellbeing. A few small changes in your home, such as decluttering and letting in fresh air, can help foster a sense of calm to facilitate your meditation practice.

For more helpful, insightful and inspirational reading material, connect with April or Sandy.