We’ve now officially welcomed August, and looking at the calendar, we’ve officially spent almost one-and-a-half years being stuck at home due to the various movement control orders (MCOs).

Cabin fever had most probably set in for some of you out there, and being cooped up at home for such a long period of time may not be good for your mental and physical wellbeing.

Now, the bad news is, we have no idea how long more we’ll be spending at home, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have to let your mental health suffer.

Here are five things you can do to beat stress and lift your spirits in a jiffy.

#1 Go for a walk

You know how people put ‘taking long walks’ as a hobby? Well, they are on to something. According to several studies, any form of exercise, and that includes walking, releases body's natural happy hormone - endorphins, reduces stress hormones such as cortisol, improves sleep and also a person's self-image.

A 10-minute walk is enough to improve one’s mental wellbeing, according to this study by Cornell University. So, every time you’re feeling a little bit down, just head out for a walk - while maintaining physical distancing, of course.

#2 Take a deep breath

There’s a reason why people often ask you to take a deep breath when you’re feeling stressed out or angry: it helps your body relax.

According to this article by the Harvard Health Publishing, controlling your breath can help propel you to a state of relaxation. If you don't know where to start, you can start by going for yoga and/or meditation classes, where breathing techniques are often used.

#3 Talk to yourself - in third person

Yes, we know this sounds weird, but talking to yourself in third person will make you more focused. When you turn your internal monologue to that of the third person, you’ll find that it has a calming effect that will help you control your emotions and reduce your stress levels.

If you’re finding it hard to visualise, think of it like talking to a friend with a problem. It’s easier to be objective and coach them because we have distance from the problem, and that distance can promote rational thinking which is why this method works brilliantly!

#4 Try half-smiling

You ever heard of the saying, ‘fake it ’til you make it’? Well, this is exactly that. When you put your body in a physical position associated with feelings of calmness, your brain is tricked into relaxing and reduces anxiety. In fact, according to this article, University of Kansas researchers found that smiling, even when you’re faking it, helps reduce the body's response to stress and lower heart rate in tense situations.

To do a half-smile, start by relaxing all the muscles in your face—your forehead, eyes, ears, tongue, jaw, everything. Then simply begin to form the first hints of a smile with your lips.

#5 Sleep more

Well, we don’t mean sleeping on the job; we mean getting more quality sleep. Losing sleep can cause stress, which can, in turn, lead to insomnia, creating a vicious cycle that repeats itself. Just one night of sleep deprivation can increase anxiety by 30 up to per cent, which is why getting enough rest (particularly a sufficient amount of deep sleep) is so important.

In order to make sure you get enough deep sleep each night, try putting away your Netflix or YouTube right before bed and working to find a sleep schedule that works for you and sticking to it. This way, your body gets used to going to the routine and you’ll be a lot more rested and less anxious throughout the day.

#6 Spread positivity

You know the saying, ‘the more you give, the more you get in return’? Well, you can apply this in your every day life. You can start by uploading positive notes on your social media accounts. Highlighting something positive helps us to focus more on the good things that happen around us, instead of the bad. Plus, it can also lift up others’ moods too

There’s now also a great platform for you to do that.

In support of the mental health wellbeing of Malaysians, Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) – in collaboration with partners, Grab, Astro, and GETHA – have launched a campaign aimed at uplifting the nation’s spirits.

Called ‘Hello, We Can’, the campaign encourages Malaysians to share positive and motivational content with others on their own social media account using the hashtag #HelloWeCan.

The goal is to spread a wealth of well-wishes, words of encouragement, and more in videos and photos, which Malaysians can browse and peruse in the hopes of lifting their spirits and mental well-being.

Think of it as a motivation board for Malaysians, created by Malaysians.

This initiative aims to remind Malaysians of our resilience and never-give-up spirit in the face of adversity, while creating awareness for mental health through crowd-sourced content created by Malaysians, for Malaysians.

On top of that, you can help those in need with every social media post you put up with the hashtag #HelloWeCan.

For every positive social media post, GSC and its partners will be channeling RM10 into a donation pool that will benefit non-government organisations such as the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO), Befrienders Malaysia, the Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association (MIASA), as well as The Community and Sustainability Centre of Universiti Malaya (UMCares).

These donations will help fund each of these organisations’ individual mental health initiatives including the operation of crisis helplines, psychosocial therapy, capital building, and much more.

Best of all, you also stand a chance to win prizes worth RM38,000 (comprising of GETHA products, vouchers, and cash) by uploading uplifting messages with the hashtag onto your social media account.

The first 20,000 participants can also walk away with RM10 GrabMart promo codes.

To participate, all you need to is upload a photo or video onto your Instagram or TikTok account with the hashtag #HelloWeCan. Postings must be permanent on the uploader’s feed or reel for verification, and all accounts participating must be public.

For more information about the‘Hello, We Can!’ initiative, head over to GSC’s website here.