As human beings, we have been wired to survive. Even as the world evolves, the sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for the flight and fight response still kicks in when we sense danger. The brain instructs the body to flood the blood with stress hormones and other biochemicals that contract muscles, increase heart rate, improve respiratory functions, and boost energy in preparation for self-defense.
This response is essential for survival. However, it’s important to understand that our bodies can’t tell the difference between a real and perceived threat. Now that we are amid a pandemic, we are witnessing several threats such as people falling sick, a high death rate, loss of jobs, and living in isolation.
It’s quite difficult to enjoy ourselves with all these threats around us. However, it’s not impossible. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you can have tiny moments of pleasure.
Effects of chronic stress
According to the reviews of the assignment help reports, when you are exposed to a stressful environment, you might start feeling powerless. And this can lead to hopelessness and depression. Chronic stress leads to a host of serious health problems. They include:
- Anxiety, depression, and personality disorders
- Heart diseases, high blood pressure, and heart attack
- Menstrual problems
- Skin problems such as acne and eczema
- Hair loss
- Obesity and eating disorder
Chronic stress will make you focus on negative thoughts and leave you depleted and disconnected from the rest of the world. Fortunately, these effects can be reversed.
Pleasure during stressful times
It may seem too good to be true. However, shifting your attention toward the tiny pleasures in your life can eliminate stress. According to US researchers, pleasurable emotions like having exciting things to do prevents chronic stress and depression.
Among people with high levels of stress, those who reported having pleasurable moments were less likely to fall into depression. We all experience pleasure in different ways. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy the little things during the pandemic.
Don’t think of it as a cliché
Most people in our world today talk about “enjoying the little things” in life so often that it has become meaningless. However, research studies have shown that this phrase has several benefits linked to it. Taking time every day to appreciate the pleasures in life, however small, promotes satisfaction even when things don’t turn out as you expected.
Enjoying the small joyous and pleasurable moments that come up without planning or warning will contribute to long-term happiness than big days that rarely come around. Tiny moments of pleasure strengthen the immune system, relieve stress and pain, improve heart health, and extend life.
Wake up early
As the writers of paper writing services review at Write My Assignment report, if you’ve formed the habit of hitting the snooze button, this tip might not please you. However, you should give it a try. Wake up fifteen or twenty minutes earlier tomorrow. You might feel groggy. However, pay attention to the sensations that you don’t usually focus on. The world looks and feels different in the morning.
Therefore, step outside or stand near your window and enjoy the view. Instead of focusing on the negative side such as you’re the size of your small apartment or the trash outside, notice the good things. It might be the morning breeze, the blue sky, or the sun. Waking up earlier means that you will start your day calmly.
Take a walk
Walking is one of the best ways to get out of your space and find pleasure in the world. A walk can relieve stress and evoke positive emotions thanks to instant boosters like fresh air and sunlight. It also enhances creativity and awakens curiosity since you’ll take note of plants and animals that you’ve never seen before.
Taking note of your surroundings will keep your mind fixated on the present moment and maximize pleasure. You can make it more enjoyable by inviting a loved one along. If you don’t want to walk, sitting under a tree can also inspire calm and peacefulness. Remember to adhere to social distancing rules and other guidelines to avoid getting infected.
Try gardening
Research studies conducted by essay writing services have shown that household gardening especially vegetable gardening can improve health and promote wellbeing. Watering a seedling and watching it grow to bear other seeds can be rewarding.
If you’ve planted something edible, you can savor the moment by eating something that you grew and looked after. Studies have also proven that there is a direct link between happiness and gardening. Healthy bacteria that live in soil can help in stimulating serotonin which relieves stress and anxiety.
Talk to someone
In our modern world, we are connected like never before. Most people prefer texting to the old fashioned phone call. Text messages are not only convenient but also effective.
Phone calls that take a while can be challenging especially if you dislike them or have other urgent things to do. Yet, listening to a loved one is one of the small pleasures that most people overlook. Set aside ten to fifteen minutes every day to call a family member or friend. Hearing them laugh or tell a story can bring you unexpected joy.
Read books
As an avid book lover, you probably understand the pleasure of getting immersed into an amazing story or making friends with different characters. Reading will not only excite but also inspire you. It will expose you to different perspectives and distract you from your worries. According to a survey conducted in 2013, regular readers tend to be more satisfied, happy, and calm. If you don’t like reading, you should listen to audiobooks.
Stargazing
Stars are beautiful and vast things. Taking a couple of minutes in the evening to look up the sky will create a great sense of joy and awe. You don’t have to be an astronomer to enjoy the beautiful sky at night. You can also indulge in night time activities.
Conclusion
Taking pleasure in both small and big things will transform your life especially during the pandemic. As you have seen, there are a lot of simple things that you can do right now to turn your life around.
Tiffany Harper is a training guru who’s been working in the corporate sector for over a decade now. She is a management graduate and loves to share her experience through blogs and articles. For her love of writing, she also provided freelance consultations for fast essay writing service and best essay writing service uk while working with Buy Essay Online. Please do not hesitate to contact her.
