5 Tips To Stay Happy & Healthy During An Epidemic
Currently, many people inside and outside of China are very worried about being infected by the new coronavirus. Throughout the day, we see news with accurate information, but also misinformation from rumors spread out of insecurity. YES, we should take precautionary measures advised by the Chinese government and World Health Organization (WHO) - wearing masks, washing our hands (or using hand sanitizer), avoid crowded areas, and maintaining personal hygiene. However, we must not forget that we still have a life to live and enjoy, especially during the precious time of Chinese New Year. Below are the 5 tips to stay happy and healthy during an epidemic.
Before you continue reading, watch the YouTube video below to get a more complete take on staying happy and healthy!
1. Invest in yourself!
Often people complain that they don’t have enough time to just be lazy at home or with their families. As public entertainment spots and restaurants are closed, now is the best time to broaden your horizons, gain new knowledge, as well as try out new things. Invest in yourself by, for example, taking online courses, participating in an online community, or doing indoor (mental and physical) exercises. Spend more me-time by focusing on yourself instead of on other people or your job, and use this time to help you grow in various ways.
2. Don't forget to read positive news
While it is important to keep up with the current news, we should not be watching negative news, rumors & uncertain information every few hours. Once in the morning and evening is probably enough to stay current on the virus. According to neuroscientists, our brain is more stimulated by negative than positive information, but it is not wired to handle the overload of negative information from various channels today. In a study by London University, researchers found that people with upbeat moods had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol weakens your immune system and chronic inflammation that relates to heart disease and cancer or high blood pressure.
Read more positive news here: 点击链接可阅读更多正面新闻： https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org
3. Be grateful (although it's hard)
In order to live a happy life, gratitude is one of the keys to increase your own happiness. So take a moment and think about what you can be grateful for and write them down; because no matter how bad a situation is, you should always be able to find at least 10 things you can be grateful for. Here are a few personal examples: I’m grateful that the plants in my apartment are generating oxygen for me; I’m grateful for food to eat; I’m grateful for a roof over my head… These are just a few grateful thoughts that came to my mind while writing this article.
4. Boost your immune system
While this article’s main focus is on mental health during this epidemic, we must not forget how important physical health is at this time. Here are a few things you can do to strengthen your immune system:
Homemade chicken soup with vegetables for instance is the preferred healthy dish in many Western countries like Germany to prevent and cure the flu.
Drink hot water and/or green tea with fresh ginger. You can also eat fresh ginger directly if you are able to handle the strong taste.
Drink essential oils or rub them on various body parts. Lemon oil is great for detoxing and for when you are sick. OnGuard helps fight against flu and strengthens your immune system long-term. Peppermint can not only help you stay fresh and positive, it can also soothe sore throats. Oregano and Tea Tree oils are natural medicine against many normal flus and colds. (Recommended brand with high quality oils: doTerra)
5. Practice being out of your comfort zone 挑战自己走出你的舒适区
Some people have lost their clients or businesses during this epidemic and prolonged holiday. It has also caused many foreigners to leave China for the time being. But as mentioned above, matter how challenging this time can be, there’s always something positive about it; there’s always something to be grateful for. Being pushed out of our comfort zone makes us grow! Use the current situation to think of new business models and business opportunities to try out, grow, and do things differently. Perhaps you’ll come up with an idea or solution you wouldn’t have if you had stayed in your comfort zone.