By Ali Whitney
I think it’s safe to say that we are all in a weird place right now. Uncertainty can feel unsettling, which is why it’s important to focus on the basics. Whether you, or someone you love is experiencing anxiety due to COVID-19, there are some helpful things that you can do to get through the rest of this real-life episode of the twilight zone!
1) Utilize Outlets/De-Stressors. Gyms, cafés, and other public places are closed for business. If it’s raining grab an umbrella and take a walk, if it’s sunny smile at the sky! Pull your bike out of the garage and pump some air into the tires. Make the kids go play out back and throw on a Youtube workout video! Draw or paint a picture. Talk to your partner about sectioning time for both you and them out of the week/day to have alone time/ exercise time. We can all easily make excuses to not take care of ourselves during this pandemic; check in with your people and make sure that they are practicing self-care! Every beneficial action that we take will make us a healthier, happier, and stronger people at the end of this.
2) Sleep Cycle. Planning to wake up and go to bed at the same time is important because while it maintains structure in your schedule, it will also ensure that you get the proper rest you need. When our minds are exhausted this can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other stressors.
3) Maintaining a Schedule. Whether you are working from home, all of a sudden a certified teacher homeschooling your children, cooking 3 meals a day when you don’t usually cook one, it can truly feel like a lot. It is ESSENTIAL to balance your day out in any possible way, and this can mean something entirely different for everyone. From ensuring that you eat your meals at the same time each day, to getting off the computer to stop your work day, it’s important to keep everything in a designated “box.”
4) Keep Connected. As human beings we are social creatures and we thrive from having conversations, seeing our friends and colleagues, talking and sharing stories. We are fortunate that this pandemic is happening at a time where we have access to use services like FaceTime, Zoom, Facebook Messenger, and so on.
In utilizing all of our coping mechanisms, connecting virtually with our friends and family, maintaining our schedules, and getting rest and good foods into our body, WE CAN DO THIS. Remember, we are all in this individually, but more importantly we are all in this together.
