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Currently, everyone has to spend a lot of time at home without the possibility to do many of the usual activities. This leads to insecurity and consequently to tension, impatience and stress.

The familiar social environment is missing but one’s own well-being must not be abandon. Instead of being down all the time, you should try to make yourself useful, focused and happy. With many small things that are sustainable and from which you can benefit in the long term – especially now in this tricky situation. That’s why I’ve made a list of things I’m currently enjoying and I’d like to share it with you. Here are 5 main activities that keep me sane and happy during the lockdown. In difficult times you have to be happy!

1. Taking care of plants

Plants are more than just decoration in your home. They make your life friendlier and brighter. Even if they are only at the window, in a dark corner or hanging from the ceiling, they enrich your life and have a positive effect on you and your surroundings.

Peace with plants

 

These days we spend more time in buildings than ever before and that’s why plant therapy is just perfect because plants have a calming effect on us. They are something very special and can easily bring a smile to your face. Many of them are very easy to care for, require hardly any water and some even do not need soil. So use this time to build your own little jungle.

2. Yoga, exercising

A nice yoga class ensures a certain degree of relaxation and provides a chic counterbalance to the hectic time. We become stronger and our muscles become longer and more flexible by stretching. But not only that. The effect that regular practice has on us and our body is amazing! So I thought I would motivate you to get on your mat every day so that you can digest daily lockdown life much better.

In addition to building new routines, yoga practice has a very pragmatic, physical consequence on an important connection point. The vagus nerve is a very important nerve for our physical health, as it transmits the signals of our brain to our cardiovascular system, to the stomach and intestines and much more in no time at all. In the meantime, several studies have proven that yoga training significantly improves the tone of exactly this nerve. Sounds good, right? Try it!

3. Cooking

There are many reasons to become creative in the kitchen right now: Cooking at home offers a welcome change, and good food is a comfort to the soul and strengthens the immune system. Cooking and eating are my main activities these days. It’s a pleasure and a wonderful opportunity to spend a few hours in the kitchen with myself being disconnected from outside news and reality.

Cooking

It always makes me particularly happy to cook healthy foodplant-based and gluten-free. I am not a cook myself, but I have experimented a lot with vegan food and some of my recipes I already shared here on my blog. Many more to come!! So don’t be lazy and try to make your own favorite dish. It has never been that easy to cook than now!

4. Meditating

Meditation is an alternative way of dealing with disturbing feelings such as stress, or fear, during isolation. Under these circumstances, it is a great challenge to maintain inner peace and through daily practice, we can achieve emotional well-being too. In today’s world, there is always some news that makes us feel threatened in our existence. When we humans feel threatened, we quickly become panicky. Meditation is a great way to overcome anxiety because hysteria is often more contagious than any virus!

Wanna try and don’t know where to start?

Start with a simple meditation exercise. It only takes a few minutes.

Sit comfortably on a chair with the soles of your feet touching the floor. Be aware that you are now out of reach for some minutes. Make sure that you sit upright – shoulders back, head straight. As if connected to the ceiling by an invisible thread. Now set an alarm clock or the stopwatch in your mobile to 10 or more minutes. Close your eyes and concentrate on your breath. In and out, in and out… Experience this refreshing minute by moving from breath to breathe. If your thoughts stray, don’t get upset about it but say inside: “Not now.” Then return to the exercise and continue to breathe calmly.

Meditation

 

You can extend this small but fine meditation exercise further and further in the course of time. Do this every day, pay enthusiastically into your relaxation account, and withdraw valuable energy from your stress account, which you can use very well in this phase. Never underestimate the effect of a perhaps small but regular relaxation practice!

5. Talking with friends

Everyone talks about how much they miss their friends in quarantine. And I’m not an exception. We all know that friendship plays a big role in our lives, based on our own experiences with friends who support, encourage and stay with us. This is especially true for those who have suffered from mental illness and could trust their friends during difficult times. There is strong evidence of the healing power of friendship, not only as an emotional balm but also as a documented remedy for depression. Social support from other people can make us more independent and resilient and, ultimately, better protect us from fear.

Make a list of friends you want to talk to and set up a call using WhatsApp, Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime. This is a great opportunity and the best time to reconnect with old friends. Invite friends to have dinner with your laptops on the dining room tables or make a virtual party. Take your time to share and listen. Be creative when it comes to supporting each other.

 

It is okay to be afraid and sad from time to time. But even in difficult times, you can certainly arrange your everyday life in a way that makes you feel good.

 

If you like this post, these posts might interest you as well:

10 Things To Give Up in Order to Become a Happier Person

Science Confirms: Meditation is Great For Your Mental Health

Vegetable Pho Recipe