Gen Z is still suffering severe loneliness and social anxiety post-lockdown, here’s how to help yourself

“Life started moving so I had to do it too,” Aya says, and adds that “by focusing on the present and cultivating self-awareness, I was better equipped to manage stress, regulate my emotions, and approach challenges with a clear mind.”

Katherine Alexander a Neurocoach from Yung Mash explains how anxiety affects the brain and why mindfulness can help: “Anxiety is simply an uncertainty about what may or may not happen in the future, in other words too much time spent in your Default Mode Network, aka the Imagination Centre of the brain. It’s the largest part of our brain and we rely on it to create solutions to problems and come up with various scenarios of what our future may look like. Yet, as with everything in life, balance is key. An overactive imagination is responsible for the majority of emotional problems, and mindfulness is a great tool to slow it down.”

If you or someone you know has experienced loneliness or social anxiety as a result of pandemic, members of the YungMash Collective, founded by Masha Shishkina, have shared their tips and small steps that might help alleviate some of the daily struggles.

Start a gratitude journal

“Taking a moment each day to reflect on things I am grateful for allowed me to shift my perspective and focus on the positive aspects of life,” says Aya.

Neurocoach Marilyn adds that by doing this before you go to bed you will “give your brain a shot of dopamine that will help you to sleep better. ”

Breathe in a favourite smell

“When stressed, breathe in something that makes you happy – it could be a slice of cake or the smell of the sea breeze, just close your eyes and take a slow deep breath, breathing in all the sensations associated with what makes you happy. Just as slow, breathe out the thing that upsets or worries you. Try it three to four times and you’ll find your anxiety will ease,” suggest Masha.

Take time to reset with a stretch

“One of the most effective and easiest ways of keeping ourselves in balance is setting up a mindfulness bell on your phone to ring two times an hour and when you hear the bell do one to two super slow yawns and a super slow stretch, focusing on your deep inner value,” says Katherine Alexander. “Now watch your mind wander for a few seconds. This process rebalances your brain!” She adds.

Celebrate the process

“Divide the tasks ahead into small chunks. Celebrate your success, no matter how big or small,” recommends neurocoach Lisanne. “Honour the process of moving in the right direction,” she adds.

Accept the process

“Acceptance of worry or problems is the first step to building a new healthier paradigm. From here we can start to recognise what is real and what is in our imagination”, says Gabriele Rodter, a neurocoach at the Collective.