How have you been nowadays? Have you started to join the offline classes? Has your boss asked you to go back to work in the office? Minor changes are happening daily towards the normality we used to know before the pandemic struck the world. It is alright to feel overwhelmed by these changes. The pandemic, after all, has had a significant effect on our lives. Many of us have experienced grief, loss, anxiousness, and stress while adjusting to the new challenges. 

The decreasing number of COVID patients is good news for the world, but that also means we have to re-adjust to the old normality taken away from us for more than two years. New demands and situations might shock your system and stress you out.

You may want to pay attention to the signs of stress as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): an intense feeling of anger, sadness, worry, or frustration, changes in appetite and energy, difficulty concentrating and making decisions, difficulty sleeping or nightmares, physical reactions such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes, worsening mental health conditions, and the increased use of substances.

If you find one or more than those signs in yourself, you might want to practice these tricks to cope with the post-pandemic stress.

Take breaks from your phone, television, or any media

This includes social media. It is perfect to be informed about the latest update and situations, but unpleasant news might unconsciously upset your mind. Consider limiting the news you read or the posts you engage in on social media. Disconnect yourself from your phone, tv, and computer screens for a while. Give your mind more time to rest daily. 

Practice self-care

Practicing self-care might sound daunting, but self-care does not necessarily mean you have to spend a day in a high-end spa or sauna. Exercising regularly while listening to your favorite music is self-care too! You might want to continue your hobby that you could not do during the first wave of pandemics—jogging, cycling, or just strolling around the nearest park.

If you prefer to stay in-door, you might want to try yoga or pilates. Painting, sewing, reading books, and listening to your favorite music are a form of self-care too. Self-care is anything that you like to do without feeling any pressure. Most importantly, it would help if you got enough to sleep daily.

Eat good foods

Good foods are not fancy foods. It is completely alright if you cannot afford a premium beef cut or fresh salmon every day. Eat a balanced diet daily. You can start small by eating less fast food and cooking your beef sandwich instead at home, drinking less sugary beverages, and replacing them with fruit or veggies juice to refresh yourself during the hot afternoon.

Do not skip breakfast. Eat something wholesome to get you through the day. You might want to pair milk with toast or sunny-side up. Make sure you avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco. 

Connect with others

Sometimes darkness inside us makes us feel like we are the only one who suffers. But that is untrue. You are never alone. Numerous people are going through the same situation as you now. It is never wrong to reach out and connect yourself with them. You can try to speak up to your loved ones about your stress, worries, and anxiousness.

However, if your stress disrupted your ability to go through the day, you might want to see a professional and talk about your issues. It is okay to do so. As Bianca Sapracino has said in her book, if bones can break, minds can too. So if going to the hospital to treat a broken bone is normal, going to a psychologist or a therapist to mend your mental health is normal too.

Those tricks are in accordance with the stress coping mechanism by CDC. By practicing those tricks, you might be able to cope with the post-pandemic stress. If you can survive two years of the pandemic, you are a brave fighter who indeed would survive this new normal era's transition.

 Last but not least, do not forget to get vaccinated with the official COVID-19 vaccines provided by the government to keep you and your loved ones safe. Here is to healthier days ahead!