Reading the news has been a nightmare in recent times. From an outbreak to a pandemic in the blink of an eye, COVID-19 has taken the media by storm. Staying optimistic in such an unforeseen crisis feels almost impossible as fear engulfs us all. But, practising positivity is a powerful way of keeping stress and worries at bay. Here is the 7-ingredient secret recipe that will feed your mind with positive vibes.
1. Start each day with a grateful heart
Research shows that gratitude is strongly associated with greater happiness. To evoke the positive emotions in you, make it a habit to bring to mind the things you are grateful for everyday. Give thanks for having a brand new day to be good and do good. Appreciate the great support system you’re backed by. Feel blessed that you are healthy today as someone who has been battling the virus would love to live your life right now. Fill your mind with positivity and watch yourself become a happier person.
2. Find the good in the bad
What may seem like a negative situation could turn out to be one of the biggest lessons or realisations you will have in life. Take the current pandemic for example. Italy, despite being hit hard, displayed national solidarity as they sang their national anthem in unison, inspiring the rest of the world to stay united. Many of us are cooped up at home working but consider it a blessing in disguise to do the little things you love that you never prioritised – spending quality time with family, pursuing new hobbies, working out and staying fit. Train your mind to see the good in everything.
3. Surround yourself with optimistic people
Not literally of course; do maintain social distancing. But you get the point. The last thing we need now is family members and friends who do nothing but whine about the situation, criticise the measures taken and spread fear. Drowning yourself in such toxicity will not do any good. Instead, be with optimistic people who see the light in darkness – they share uplifting articles, remind you to stay safe and check on your well-being. As a result, you become a more positive and happy person.
4. Guard your body and mind
Coronavirus has taken a toll on businesses, forcing them to implement drastic measures such as unpaid leaves, cancellation of events and even temporary closure. Besides financial losses, many employees are emotionally affected and questioning their stability in the near future. While following the crucial steps in keeping your body safe such as maintaining good hygiene and practising social distancing, take steps to keep your mind healthy as well. You can work out, listen to music and pursue relaxing hobbies such as floral arrangement. Flowers make a positive impact such as better moods, reduced anxiety and stress, and increased energy. One way to brighten the mood of your loved ones is to gift them flowers for any ‘quarantine occasions’ such as birthdays, anniversaries and graduations (that have been unfortunately cancelled).
5. Have a healthy relationship with the internet
This can’t be stressed enough – always check the authenticity of the content you come across. Fake news spreads like wildfire, making it sensational, but unnecessary. During a crisis, such news can have worse repercussions, compared to regular days. Trust the news from official sources only. Also, limit the time you spend on the internet during this period, particularly social media. Don’t get sucked into this modern day black hole reading never-ending bad news and people’s comments, and end up feeling overwhelmed, fearful or even miserable.
6. Spread love and kindness
During a pandemic, it is the front-line workers such as doctors, nurses and transport drivers who take high risks and make the most sacrifices. They deserve all the respect and love. At BloomBack, we are doing our part to spread positive vibes and you can join us too. Simply contribute $10 on a box of aromatic rose soap by clicking here and we will have them delivered to make their day. Join us in fighting fear by planting smiles!
7. Never lose your smile
This may feel like an odd advice now – to smile while terrible things are happening around the world. You may not feel like it, but it will actually uplift your mood. Those around you will see you smiling and most likely respond with a smile back, even if they’re under harsh circumstances. We know that coronavirus isn’t going to disappear overnight, but it will be easier to get through it by smiling and staying positive.
Change is the only constant – this has been evident from the way our lives have been for the past few months. Nevertheless, we can always prepare ourselves to deal with any unexpected realities by having a positive mindset. Don’t be disheartened, take things a little slow and stay hopeful that better days are ahead of us. Tough times don’t last, tough people do!