How to stay positive in challenging times

The Coronavirus pandemic has a huge global impact and people in many countries are in lockdown, spending most of their time at home. As we get bombarded with news, posts, statistics and opposing opinions, we might easily be thrown off center. Many of us feel intense, challenging emotions during this unprecedented situation and this can bring us right to the edge.

Self-care becomes crucial these days in order to stay well and positive. If we do not take care of our wellbeing – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually – we get easily drawn into a negative spiral. When we cannot control what is happening, we can challenge ourselves to control how we respond to the given situation. By practicing this, we reclaim our power and take responsibility for our own health and wellbeing. Instead of keeping ourselves trapped in worry, overwhelm, insecurity or anxiety, we can take up daily practices to shift our focus and raise our vibration.

Understanding the Body-Mind Connection

Whenever we are stuck in fear-based emotions, our body’s innate capacity to fight pathogens (such as viruses or bacteria) as well as to heal and regenerate itself is actually compromised. Instead, we are caught in “fight or flight” mode which, when it lasts for an extended period of time, can cause insomnia, digestive disorders, tension and unrest.

As soon as we notice that we stuck in negativity or fearful states, we can investigate how closely thought activity, emotions and physical states are interconnected. Maybe you have already noticed, that after reading a negative article you start worrying not only about the content of the article, but the worry spreads to other areas and creates a stream of negative thoughts. These consequently lead to emotional unrest which in turn manifest as tension in the body. Becoming aware of this mechanism is the first step if we want to create changes. We can learn to move though the day with more ease and with a quicker rebound back to balance.

9 Self-Care Habits for your Daily Life

Include these practices into your day to lift your mood and boost your health and wellbeing. Notice and celebrate all the shifts and changes!

1. Limit your daily consumption of news and screen time. The world will not be going to end when you keep your phone away for some hours, when TV is not always switched on at home and when you check your emails only once a day. This way you limit the overflow of information that is likely to constantly feed your worries and anxieties.
2. Practice meditation or mindfulness techniques.
   You learn to be more aware of whatever is happening in the present moment. Instead of reaching to your phone first thing in the morning, start your day with some time in silence being with yourself and notice the effects of it throughout the day.
3. Take care of your body with regular movement practices such as Yoga, jogging or whatever feels good and is easy to integrate into your day to day life. Besides keeping your body healthy and fit, regular exercise will help boosting your mood.
4. Start a gratitude journal in which you note down at least three things that you are grateful for each day. Maybe it’s the friendly cashier, a phone call with a friend or a flower in a garden. Train yourself to focus on all the positive things that are present in your life.
5. Seek uplifting company with inspiring people in whose company you feel seen and accepted. There are many people around who are very negative – online or offline – and can suck your energy. Notice how you are affected by the vibe of certain people and if necessary (and possible), limit the contact with people that constantly spread negativity.
6. Find positive Affirmations to practice daily, for example: “I am safe and healthy.”, “I can live without worry and at the same take good care of myself.”, “I am worthy and enough.” I focus on all the good in my life”. Affirmations work best, when you repeat them regularly in a relaxed state, but they can also be used as soon as you catch yourself in a negative train of thoughts.
7. Go out in nature often to ground yourself. Instead of ruminating while taking a walk or sitting on a park bench, use the time outside to see, feel, listen to, smell and sense the perfection and beauty of nature. Connect to nature with all your senses and honor the connection to mother earth.
8. Take time for relaxation. Put on some soothing music and chill, drink a cup of calming tea, practice guided relaxation techniques and make sure you get enough sleep at night. As soon as your body relaxes, your nervous system will calm down and the body goes into rest and digest mode. Your immune system will get a boost when you take time for rest and relaxation.
9. Be creative, sing and dance. Use the time that is given to you to pick up a new hobby or rediscover an old one, join virtual workshops or one of Udara’s online events such as live ecstatic dance or kirtan. Singing sacred mantras and spiritual songs is a beautiful way to create connection, feel joy and open our hearts. Check out our Facebook page to get the latest updates. You can still watch previous events on our page and feel the spirit of togetherness virtually.

As challenging as this pandemic may seem, this is also an invitation for us to get to know ourselves better, to evolve and to find the blessings in the situation.

We are all in this together! Even as Udara is closed right now, we love to connect with you through blog articles, online events, newsletters and social media. We send you a big virtual hug! Stay healthy and well.