Relax? In This Economy?! A Guide To Turn Off, Tune In, & Drop Out In A Post-Pandemic World

The Reality Of A Post Pandemic World

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, life has been anything but normal. We’ve had to adjust to a “new normal” that’s full of restrictions, guidelines, and, in many cases, fear. Many of us have had to develop different coping mechanisms to get through this difficult time and, for some, it can be difficult to relax and enjoy the present moment. 

The fear of the virus has caused many of us to become more anxious and uncertain about the future. Whether it’s the fear of being infected or the fear of losing a job, the pandemic has caused many to feel overwhelmed and uncertain. This feeling of anxiety and uncertainty can make it difficult for people to relax and be in the present moment. 

The pandemic has also caused many of us to be more isolated than ever before. We’re social creatures, and being unable to connect with friends and family can cause us to feel lonely and disconnected. It also brought with it a lot of financial strain. Many of us have had to adjust to a new reality of job losses, pay cuts, and financial uncertainty.

The pandemic caused many of us to feel like our lives are on pause. With travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders, many of us have had to put our plans and goals on hold. This feeling of being stuck can make it difficult to find joy in the present moment and take the time to relax and enjoy life. 

Coming back to yourself…

Stress In The Body

Stress is an unavoidable part of life, and it can have a major impact on our physical and mental health. While it's normal to feel stressed out from time to time, too much stress can have a negative effect on our bodies. Stress lives in the body in a variety of ways, from physical symptoms to chemical changes. 

One of the most common physical symptoms of stress is muscle tension. When we are feeling stressed, our bodies tend to tense up, leading to tightness in the neck, shoulders, and back. This can lead to headaches, fatigue, and even pain. 

Stress also affects our cardiovascular system. When we are stressed, our heart rate and blood pressure can increase, leading to a host of health problems. Stress can also lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Stress can also affect our digestive system. Stress can lead to changes in appetite and digestion, as well as nausea, abdominal pain, and even diarrhea. 

On a chemical level, stress can also affect our hormones. When we are stressed, our bodies release hormones such as cortisol, which can have a number of negative effects. Cortisol can disrupt our sleep patterns, weaken our immune system, and even lead to weight gain.

Relaxing The Body Through Meditation

When we experience stress, our bodies go into “fight or flight” mode, releasing hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol into our systems. These hormones can create a range of physical symptoms such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, muscle tension, and headaches. 

Meditation is an effective way to counteract these physical symptoms and reduce stress levels. It encourages us to take a step back and observe our experience without judgment. This can help us to become more aware of our thoughts, feelings, and reactions to stress, so that we can respond to it in a calmer and more balanced way. 

Meditation also helps to reduce stress by slowing down our breathing and heart rate. This helps to lower our blood pressure and improve circulation, releasing tension and calming our body.

Try this…

Take a few deep, calming breaths. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. As you breathe, concentrate on feeling each breath as it enters and leaves your body. 

Now, start to focus on each part of your body. Start at your toes and work all the way up to your head. With each part, focus on feeling it relax and release any tension it might be holding. 

As you work your way up, imagine each muscle becoming more and more relaxed.

When you reach your head, take a few more deep breaths and allow your whole body to sink into a deep state of relaxation.

Stress In the Mind

Our thoughts can be a major source of stress. We may be overwhelmed with worries about the future, regretful of the past, or anxious about the present. These thoughts can create a feeling of being overwhelmed and out of control, leading to stress and anxiety. 

We can also experience stress due to our own internal dialogue. This can include negative self-talk, perfectionism, and unrealistic expectations. We may be our own harshest critic.

Our thoughts and internal dialogue can have a powerful effect on our mood, energy levels, and overall well being. Taking time to recognize and address the thoughts and beliefs that are causing stress can help us to manage it more effectively.

Relaxing the Mind Through Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is a powerful technique used to relax the mind. It Involves focusing on the present moment. It is meant to increase awareness and self-understanding. 

When we become more mindful, we can better recognize our thought patterns and see how our minds can cause us suffering. We can also learn to accept ourselves and our circumstances without judgment.

Most mental stress comes from living much in the past or worrying too much about the future. Mindfulness meditation eases and relaxes the mind by tuning out things that are out of our control or that have not even happened yet. By staying present, the weight of the mind can be lifted.

Try this…

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Allow your body to relax and your muscles to loosen. 

Bring your attention to the present moment. Notice the sights, sounds, and smells around you. 

Let go of any thoughts of the past or worries about the future. Concentrate on the here and now. Focus on your breath. 

Notice the feeling of the air as it passes in and out of your lungs. Gently bring your attention back to the present moment when your thoughts wander. 

Allow yourself to be still and to be in the moment. 

Feel the peace and tranquility that comes with focusing on the present. 

Remind yourself that the only moment that truly matters is now.

Stress In The Heart

Stress can live in the heart as a range of difficult emotions. Grief, resentment, loneliness, anger, and jealousy can all manifest on the heart and live a person feeling cold, heavy, detached, and depressed.

Stress of the heart is often seen as an emotional response to external events and circumstances. This can lead to emotional distress in a few different ways. One is that it can cause us to become overwhelmed and unable to cope with the situation. When faced with too much stress, it can lead to feelings of helplessness and powerlessness. 

When the heart feels stress, it affects our ability to give and receive love and feel empathy for others. We saw this play out quite a bit during the social unrest and political division of the pandemic.

Relaxing The Heart Through Meditation

Negative emotions can be taxing on our hearts, but when we meditate, we can create a safe space where we can relax and let go of these negative emotions. This helps to reduce stress and tension, and allows us to let go of any negative emotions that may have been stored in our hearts.

The heart is the center of our being - it’s the place where we feel emotion and it’s the home of our love and compassion. But all too often, we can get blocked off from our heart, either through pain, fear, or trauma. Meditation can help us to break through these blocks, allowing us to open ourselves up to our true selves and to the love that already exists inside.

When the heart is able to open to love and acceptance, it is in a natural state of flow and relaxation.

Try This…

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. 

Allow your body to relax and your mind to become still. 

Allow yourself to become aware of your heart and the energy emanating from it. 

Picture your heart glowing with love and compassion. 

Allow this energy to expand outward, filling your body and soul with warmth. 

Feel the peace and joy that come with living from your heart. 

Let any doubts or worries melt away. Focus on living each day with love and kindness. 

Remember that when we live from our hearts, we become more connected to ourselves and others. 

Take some time to be grateful for the beauty of life and for the love that surrounds us. 

Know that when we live from our hearts, we can make a positive impact in the world. 

Take this feeling of peace and love with you as you open your eyes and go about your day.

Stress In The Spirit

When your soul or spirit gets stressed, it can have a profound effect on your overall health, wellbeing, and purpose. It can create a disconnect between us and our higher power, the Universe, and our life’s purpose. It can also leave us feeling overwhelmed and lost, as if we’re spinning our wheels in the mud and getting nowhere. 

It’s easy to feel disconnected from our purpose when our soul or spirit is under stress. We can start to forget what we’re here to do, why we’re here, or what our life’s mission is. We can start to feel overwhelmed and lost, and this can lead to feelings of despair and hopelessness.

The first reaction we have when our souls become stressed is to enter into survival mode. Survival mode is a place of fear, where our minds shut down and we are unable to think clearly. This fear can stop us from taking action, or prevent us from following our true purpose. We become paralyzed by fear and can't seem to make a decision or move forward. 

When we are in survival mode, we are not able to connect to our higher self or access the spiritual realm. We are stuck in a place of fear and insecurity, which can lead to us making decisions based on our own insecurities rather than our true purpose.

Relaxing The Spirit Through Meditation

When you meditate, you enter a peaceful state of mind, allowing your body and mind to relax and be at ease. This state of peace and relaxation can allow the soul to be liberated. Through meditation, we can tap into our innermost feelings and thoughts, and gain insight into our true self. This inner exploration can be freeing and empowering, as we can learn to accept ourselves for who we are and gain insight into our true purpose in life.

Meditation can also be used to help us to connect with our spiritual side. It allows us to explore a deeper understanding of our connection to the divine, karmic mission, and our relationship to God, Source, the Universe, and unconditional love.

Try This…

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Feel your body relax into the floor and allow your mind to clear. 

Imagine a beautiful white light emanating from your heart. Feel the light expand and fill your entire body with warmth and peace. 

Now, imagine that a doorway opens in the light. Step through the doorway and you find yourself in a beautiful garden filled with vibrant colors and fragrant flowers. 

Take a few moments to explore the garden. Notice the beauty and peace that surround you. 

As you wander through the garden, you come to a fountain. Sit beside the fountain and feel the gentle current of energy that flows through you. 

Allow yourself to go deeper and deeper into this place of stillness and peace. Listen to the sound of the fountain and the gentle whispers of the divine. 

Feel your soul connecting to the divine. Take a few moments to allow yourself to be present in this moment and to open up to the love and light of the divine. 

When you are ready, thank the divine for this beautiful meditation, then slowly open your eyes.