Dealing with Uncertainty
After living two years in a world of pandemic, many people have experienced increased feelings of stress, anxiety, low mood and depression. With the end of the pandemic now in sight, the world has suddenly become uncertain in a way that was not expected and affects us all deeply.
Our brain loves the fact that life is predictable. When things become unpredictable, the body’s alarm system may go off, and this can lead to increased levels of anxiety and feelings of fear and threat. This can affect us in many ways, such as a decreased ability to stay focused, and our motivation and well-being can be affected negatively. At times like this, it is important to accept what is beyond our control, and to focus on easy, manageable habits that we can control.
The first thing we can do is to accept our emotions.
Feelings of anxiety and insecurity are a normal part of being a human being. They can help us to make desirable changes or take actions in life which will ultimately have a positive outcome for us. However, when these emotions become very strong and start to interfere with our daily life in a negative way, it is important to find good ways to deal with them. All feelings should be addressed and accepted, and should not be suppressed. When we accept our emotions, we can choose actions that will help us decrease our levels of stress and anxiety.
Secondly, we can focus on living in the present.
Living in the moment and not worrying about the future will decrease feelings of stress and anxiety. Living in a mindful way is something that’s challenged by modern life, but the research is clear on this point: when we try to focus on the present, it improves our mood and decreases the levels of stress hormones. Being mindful is a key factor in happiness, and something we all need to practise.
Thirdly, we can stick to or create daily routines and rituals which help us live as normally as possible.
Personally, I feel that the morning routine is absolutely key in helping to set the tone for the rest of the day. Other routines that help to increase our well-being are:
Making a relaxing bedtime a priority
Regular exercise activities that you enjoy – even short ones count
Plan time for regular social activities, especially activities helping others
Time spent in nature, as this reduces our levels of stress hormones
Plan a specific time during the day for a break with a cup of tea or coffee, for example
The fourth thing we can do in times of unprecedented levels of uncertainty is to limit our searching for news and information on social media.
We tend to seek as much information as possible, believing it will help us to feel more secure. Unfortunately, it can easily have the opposite effect and increase our levels of stress and anxiety. A good habit is to choose one or a couple of reliable information sources, and update ourselves just once or twice a day.
And always remember:
If your feelings get so strong that they’re difficult to deal with, it’s important to seek help from a professional.
