Ways to Stay Sane and Relaxed During a Pandemic

Journaling can be as simple as tapping in your Notes app. But I recommend pen and paper. A simple paper planner can double as a journal, as well as help you keep track of your tasks. Here are our favorites. I also like Miquelrius notebooks, because the paper is so delightfully soft. 

The Blue Sky Thoughtful Journal ($35) is good for figuring out what to write. It offers prompts, including intentions and aspirations; weekly highs and lows; places to describe a perfect day or favorite attribute about yourself; as well as plain pages for free writing. 

Gabriela Herstik’s Embody Your Magick: A Guided Journal for the Modern Witch ($15) is a great option for the witches among us, to guide you through your spiritual practice and get to know yourself a little better. 

Read, Read, Read

I used to go through multiple books a month, until my phone, and then college and work, started taking up more of my time. But there’s nothing like cracking open a new book and settling into an alternate world. Plus, filling up bookshelves is an easy way to decorate and make your sanctuary a little warmer.

I prefer real books, but I’ve recently come to appreciate the Kindle. Many ebooks are cheaper than the hard copy, and if you have a library card (and if you don’t, what are you waiting for?) you can check out ebooks for free.

It’s important to focus on your mental health during this time, but attending to your physical health can give you a mood boost as well. 

Work Out

Some people work out to relieve stress and feel calm. I am not one of those people, but I do take their word for it. WIRED reviews editor Adrienne So put together a guide on how to work out from home that will help even the laziest and most out-of-shape (me) to get moving.

If working out sounds more stress-inducing than stress-relieving, but you still want to stay somewhat active, try yoga. We have some tips on how to make the perfect yoga space at home, from where to buy an inexpensive yoga mat to how to decorate your corner. Yoga melts away my stress and helps build muscle.

Whether your muscles get sore from working out or from slouching over your computer for the 100th day in a row, a muscle massager (also known as a percussive device) might help fix you right up. We love the expensive Theragun, but there are more affordable options, like the SKG F5 ($129), which adds heat, and the nonpercussive Sharper Image Powerboost ($130).

Clear Your Mind

Meditation is an extremely beneficial tool to feel calm. We are constantly plugged in to what’s happening in the world, and right now especially, it’s weighing on us. Setting aside time to meditate, with your phone on silent, will give you at least a few minutes of peace.

All you need to meditate is yourself and a quiet place. But it can be hard to turn off your thoughts and focus on the task at hand. We have some tips for how to get the most out of a simple meditation app. A few that we like include the Headspace app (iOS and Android), which has an easy-to-follow beginner’s course, a decent free library of guided meditations, and Andy Puddicombe’s soothing British voice. Unplug (iOS and Android) has a seven-day free trial. Both have super-short courses, which are perfect for when you’re in desperate need of a mental break.