Escaping anxious states and pernicious behaviour

I was happy to have participated in a short meditation practice led by a respected scientist who studies mindfulness and its relationship with resilience and stress.  I realized that aside from pursuing healthy distractions such as light reading or hobbies, through meditation we are able to healthily reboot and have the ability to function normally in spite of sustained high-stress situations. I have been reading short stories from The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance (go on, cringe, say "ew"...I do not care *hair flip*) and doing a lot of music-related activities, creative yet practical cooking and baking. I've been rearranging room layouts, doing low-effort cleaning, performing short workouts, and meditating. I like this YouTube channel called Boho Beautiful and have bookmarked an arm workout video and some guided meditation videos. The meditations are on top of my regular prayer time---my prayer time is a time I set aside to be grateful for the little things that happened during the day including things that did not happen that is for the highest good.

Also, I've tried to reduce thinking too much of negative thoughts or wallowing on negative behaviour that I receive. I think this is such a stressful time for everyone; so much so that people become unusually rude or inconsiderate. And this is really because people are laser-focused on themselves and their circumstances. So my recommendation is to avoid letting your energy get robbed. It is useful to think: this time next year, would I look back and consider this essential to my life? Not to say that we should start being emotion-less androids--it's just making sure that we do not willingly subject ourselves to energy vampires. We should try our best to be available to our families and friends during this time of physical isolation and tribulation, yet we have to have enough self-respect not to subject ourselves to being hurt or taken advantage of. I think a good measure of people's characters is how they respond to high stress situations.

So, despite the challenges brought about by what is happening today...heed what Max Ehrman's Desiderata says:

" Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."

[I've mentioned Desiderata so many times on this blog--it is one of my most beloved poems. It's my compendium for life. https://annaswhatnots.blogspot.com/search?q=desiderata%27]