As WHO puts it - Fear, worry and stress are normal responses to perceived or real threats, and at times when we are faced with uncertainty or the unknown. So, it is understandable that people are experiencing fear in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.

Added to the fear of contracting the virus in a pandemic such as COVID-19 are the significant changes to our daily lives as our movements are restricted in support of efforts to contain and slow down the spread of the virus. Faced with new realities of working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling of children, and lack physical contact with other family members, friends and colleagues, it is important that we look after our mental as well as our physical health.

Post Covid Complications

Many people who survived the second wave of COVID-19 infection in India, are still fighting off post-covid complications, which are different for different individuals. People are not able to understand this virus and they are just trying to do whatever they can to keep their lives intact. In this circumstance, it is important to give yourself goals for the day and to eat well, sleep well and exercise well. Physical and mental health go hand in hand and there is no change to this formula pre or post covid. To live your life to the fullest, it is important to not to lose the moment in worries, stress and depression. Even if you are worried about supporting others, you have to be mentally and physically fit for the same.

Corona virus infection tends to break down your immune system and makes it very weak. There are several other ill-effects on functioning of different organs and hormones depending upon your prevailing health conditions before the pandemic. The fear of unknown tends to creep up your nerves and makes you mentally unstable, especially when you have lost your near and dear ones in the second wave of pandemic apart from your own illness.

What should be done?

It is important to carry on with life while taking necessary precautions, following government and WHO guidelines; most of all, it is important to not to take your body and health for granted. Start a new routine of physical activities, you can begin with breathing exercises and yoga stretches. As your systems start getting strength, you can move on to brisk walk and home bodyweight exercises plus little cardio.

Apart from daily physical activities, take good nutrition in the form of seasonal fruits, vegetables and proteins from dairy and poultry. In the recovery period, doctors prescribe supplements like multi-vitamins, calcium with D3, B12, vitamin E etc. as per your condition. Taking supplements doesn’t mean that you can back away on seasonal nutrition. Chart out timing for taking your meals complete with time allotted to fruits, veggies and proteins. Supplements can’t substitute good nutrition coming from real foods hence, bring it into your habit to eat well.

The procedure of de-stressing involves eating well, exercising well and sleeping well. Use this time to concentrate on yourself in whatever resources you have at the moment. Take at least eight to ten hours of sleep while in the recovery period and steer clear of stressful situations because once your body becomes fitter, everything else can be taken care of later. Prioritizing your time for yourself is very important to start and sustain a healthy lifestyle.

The in-depth lesson of Pandemic

Fresh air, physical activity, nutrition and good sleep create a balance in body and mind. This in turn upscales your happiness quotient and you will start taking interest in the joys of life once again after the stressful period.

If you can’t gather much strength to start once again, try meditating and yoga to regulate your mind and breaths into an order which supports changes. Life is a gift to be cherished and spread happiness inside yourself and others. Let go off what you can’t control and regulate whatever you can is the fundamental key to happiness. Be grateful for all the care you have got, all the people who stand with you, all the things you have achieved, because what we have, many people just dream of. Let’s be grateful, happy and healthy for the rest of our lives.