Anxiety Reducing Activities
Did 2021 show up as 2020 but with a wig on? It’s not working right. Many of us are struggling with the new reality of working from home or being laid off from work completely, dealing with sick relatives, or living in constant anxiety due to the uncertainty that surrounds us.
Your first instinct may be to do something productive to take your mind off things and while that is certainly a good way to go - there is nothing wrong with just being present and practicing self-care. This weekend and many upcoming weekends will be like no other - we’re all in quarantine and need to respect that for the safety of ourselves and others. By now, you may have already organized your closet, organized your shelves, sold stuff you don’t need, started a side-hustle, caught up on emails but we want to give you a weekend quarantine guide to help calm your anxiety in other ways!
Try A New Recipe And Use Those Kitchen Tools
I have always wanted to make homemade french fries. I mean, who doesn’t love fries? 🍟 Yet, making them on my own felt intimidating, until I found this video by the lovely Sadia creator of Pick Up Limes. Her step-by-step video demystified making french fries at home for me and I learn something new too. Did you know that you have to soak the potatoes for 10 minutes before baking them so that they can properly crisp while baking? If you did, then good for you but I had no clue! Neither did my Instagram followers when I painfully showed them my step by step french fry making experience. Try these recipes for yourself!
Read A Book That Makes You Feel Good
Taking care of our thoughts and emotions are more important than ever. Cozy up to a book that helps you cope with what’s going on or a book that lights up your imagination. While I’m all for learning a new skill, I say take it easy. You are doing your mind and soul some good by nourishing and managing your thoughts. I recommend two books to lift your mood and I also have a more comprehensive list for the Boss Babe’s here.
You Are A Badass, by Jen Sincero
Rising Strong, by Brene Browne
Watch Videos That Entertain And Pass The Time
YouTube has been my friend this week. It has made me laugh, educated me, and inspired me. I’ve learned about the ingredients in my skincare products and what’s the right order to apply your products. If that kind of content interests you then I highly recommend you watch Beauty Within.
I also learned about making tinctures, learned more about one of my friends (in my mind) Kristen Bell, what foods should be stored in the freezer, some new baking techniques, and overall wellness tips by the channel Well + Good.
I’ve really been into meditating before going to bed and right after waking up these days - it forces me to be present and clear the cutter in my mind. However - you can meditate all you want but if you can’t adjust your mindset to a state of awareness and positivity then you are only putting a bandaid on your thoughts. My recommendation is to listen to affirmation videos that will put you in a state of relaxation and effectively improve your state of mind. My favorite for this is the Be Inspired channel - you get a dose of good for your brain content.
Watch Something New or Out of Your Norm
It’s easy to fall into old patterns and go back to the cult favorites like The Office, Friends, New Girl, The Good Place - but use this time to watch something new. Since you won’t know what to expect your mind won’t be wandering off because you will be too engrossed with the new characters that you just connected with. My picks for great solid entertainment Gentefied and Queens Gambit on Netflix. Life is uncertain which is causing everyone’s anxiety levels to rise so why not watch a good comedy or a motivating feature that will fill your mind with some positive vibes?
Sell Items You KNOW You Won’t Wear Anymore
I keep a tidy closet anyway but I did take the opportunity to assess what in my closet doesn’t actually serve me. I’ve been holding on to designer shoes waiting for that special event - 5 years later, I have no idea what kind of event I was waiting for because those shoes were barely worn. So, I went ahead and sold them on some resale apps. I also made a donation pile (after I washed the clothing in a hot water cycle) and dropped it off at the local mission center. This act made me feel like I was shedding some old skin, I made some money, did a good deed and it improved my overall mood.
These are the sites I use for selling my goods:
Tradesy - I use this platform to sell my high-end designer good because Tradesy’s editorial team does a nice job of removing the background from your product images so that they are presented nicely and they also suggest a price based on what items similar to yours have sold. If you have Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Saint Laurent, Sergio Rossi, Miu Miu, Gucci, etc then this app is for you.
Poshmark - I use this platform to sell low to mid-range designer goods because folks here are looking for a steal. There are high-end designer offerings as well but typically people will try and lowball you but you can always counter-offer. For example, if you have Coach, Michael Kors, Zara, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, ACL, Nike, Adidas, etc. this app is for you.
Facebook Marketplace - I use this app to sell furniture or any other household items locally so that I don’t have to deal with shipping. Transactions here happen offline and the buyer comes to you.
Share Your Story
Studies have found that sharing your feelings helps with getting through difficult situations and emotions. Whether it’s journaling or creating a TikTok or Reel to express yourself could prove to be therapeutic. https://www.tiktok.com/@startupwithvanessa
