Struggling with the day-to-day? How daily affirmations can help you during an unprecedented time

Tatiana Pile
Updated ·3 min read
“The idea of the research behind affirmations and mantras actually shows that the more personalized they can be the more impactful, they are,” Shine co-founder Marah Lidey tells Yahoo Life. (Credit: Getty Images)
“The idea of the research behind affirmations and mantras actually shows that the more personalized they can be the more impactful, they are,” Shine co-founder Marah Lidey tells Yahoo Life. (Credit: Getty Images)

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many us inside, and while some of us have been able to quarantine with friends or family, many others have been forced to isolate alone.

Regardless of how you’ve spent time at home, however, the pandemic has taken a mental toll on the population in unprecedented ways. According to a recent survey from Shine, an app dedicated to serving as a support system for daily stress and anxiety, 52 percent of its users reported that their mental health has worsened and 70 percent of them cite the top reason as “uncertainty about the future” since the pandemic began.

Despite the increasing levels of anxiety and stress, the report, which included 1,257 of the app’s users, also revealed a positive side effect of the pandemic: people are opening up more about their mental health to their loved ones.

“We're seeing a reduction in the stigma around mental health,” Shine co-founder Naomi Hirabayashi tells Yahoo Life. “The number one reason being that people know that this is something other people are experiencing where so often we might not know what's going on in someone else's world or what they're feeling, but there's this kind of common thread this universal tie that binds us all where we were all struggling maybe, in different ways, but we're all going through something totally unprecedented together.”

Video: 6 Helpful Things to do at Home to Decrease Anxiety

Practicing self-care can be a personal act. From meditating to drawing, even working out, apps like Shine make various exercises accessible to help you find whatever works for you. Although the first step towards improving your mental health can seem intimidating, there is a multitude of ways to start the journey right in the comfort of your home.

One of the simplest ways to help you get you through this pandemic and work towards bettering yourself is through daily affirmations.

“The idea of the research behind affirmations and mantras actually shows that the more personalized they can be the more impactful, they are,” Shine co-founder Marah Lidey tells Yahoo Life. “So, that doesn't mean that if you really love [the phrase] ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ that it won’t work for you, it means that it should tap into something that really specifically speaks to you.”

If you’re unsure of where to begin on your journey, look towards these daily words of affirmations to start.

  • I am enough.

  • Today is going to be a great day because I am saying so.

  • I am worthy of love.

  • Every part of me is beautiful.

  • I welcome new opportunities (love, romance, work) that are good for me in life.

  • I am working towards becoming the best version of myself and will allow myself grace and room to grow.

  • My mind, body and soul are in good health.

  • Good things are happening all around me; I will let myself enjoy these moments.

  • I forgive myself for past experiences or interactions that do not define the person I am becoming or want to be.

For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow along at https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please reference the CDC’s and WHO’s resource guides.

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