The pandemic made us rethink how we take care of ourselves and our loved ones. It taught us just how vital having good health can be and why we need to improve our health and wellness with or without a pandemic. This is what led many people to live a healthier lifestyle.
Nowadays, more people are cooking healthy meals instead of dining out or ordering fast food takeouts. Others are focusing on staying active. Many are pursuing healthy hobbies such as backyard gardening. Some are even harvesting their own produce.
Some take advantage of online shopping to buy things that can support their new hobbies. From exercise equipment and baking supplies to rollerblades and even horse saddles, many are now shopping online to keep as little contact as possible with other people during the pandemic.
For some people, they managed to switch to remote working, so they can stay indoors and with their families. Now, they can continue to earn and still achieve work-life balance. But did you know that there are other ways to improve your health, happiness, and wellness during the pandemic?
Eustress
We often think stress is bad. In reality, there is such a thing as good stress. It is essential to note the eustress is different from distress. Distress is a harmful type of stress that can be short or long-term. It feels unpleasant, and hurts our performance, and can lead to physical and emotional issues. Eustress, on the other hand, makes us feel excited and motivated, is short-term, and boosts our performance, health, and well-being.
When eustress is activated, it produces positive feelings like satisfaction, excitement, and fulfillment, all the while feeling nervous and stressed. But how is considered good stress?
Specific life experiences can make you feel giddy, anxious, and even emotional. This is not to say that eustress always feels good. It will make you feel as if your heart will come out of your chest any minute, and your mind is filled with different thoughts. But what makes eustress the right kind of stress is its ability to drive you into becoming a better version of you.
According to a study, eustress keeps the brain alert, thus improving performance. The researchers noted that, indeed, stress could make you better. It can make you more resilient, teaching you to be braver, stronger, and emotionally healthier. It makes you step out of your comfort zone so you can achieve better things. Eustress can even help you deal with pain, shape worthy experiences, and keeping your mental and emotional health at bay.
The Art of Saying No
Some of us are people pleasers. They lack the voice and courage to say no. They fear rejection, criticism, and guilt. They fail to put healthy boundaries, even if it meant doing things for others that make them uncomfortable. This gives negative people in their life permission to take advantage of them. If this sounds like you, then you are already sabotaging your health and wellness.
Do you know that people pleasers are often depressed? This is since they fail to prioritize self-care. They always crave acceptance and put their self-worth on others. Their high stress levels can even turn to physical and emotional symptoms. This is why some of them suffer from acne, back pain, sleep issues, and even alcohol addiction.
Learning how to say no will make you feel empowered and in control. It can boost our self-esteem, improve your mood, and finally let go of negative feelings like self-doubt, dissatisfaction, and depression. It will free yourself from unnecessary stress, making you feel healthier and happier than before.
Assertiveness
Assertiveness is a healthy habit that enables us to confidently speak what’s on our mind while still being respectful. It is the act of empathizing with other person’s ideas and opinions while you stand up for what you believe in.
Learning how to be assertive is no easy task. This is since sometimes, it is easy to let our feelings cloud our judgment. But if we can successfully learn this skill, we can feel more confident and respectful. We can be effective communicators and improve our relationship with others who have different views and opinions.
This only goes to show that there are other things you can start doing so you can stay happy and healthy during the pandemic. Now, we can see stress in a better light, keeping in mind that not all stress is bad. We can start practicing being assertive so that we can improve our self-esteem while building better relationships with others. Last but not least, letting go of our people-pleasing tendencies can help us live a healthier and more fulfilling life.
