The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes to our lives. It has altered our daily routine, caused uncertainty, social isolation, and financial pressure among us. All of this can be overwhelming for people to handle and cause emotional stress.
Listed below are some tips that will help you cope with various situations during the COVID-19 outbreak and also improve your health.
- Be Safe and Prepared, but Don't Panic: Keep in mind that most of the information circulating in social media and the news about the coronavirus is not true as the information is rapidly getting updated. Therefore, only rely on credible sources of information such as the WHO and CDC to obtain accurate and scientific information about the illness.
- Arrange Virtual Meetups: Communicating with people who matter to you can bring down your stress level. Therefore, arranging a virtual meetup with your loved ones using Skype, FaceTime, etc. will inevitably help boost your mood.
- Cut Yourself Some Slack: Remind yourself it is acceptable to feel cranky and frustrated when things don't go as planned, and your routine is turned upside down. Make sure not to dwell on how things would have been different if you were not caught up with this pandemic. Instead, try to focus on the positive moments and what can come out of this situation.
- Limit Your Time on Social Media: Even though social media can help get the updates, constant exposure to the negative news over COVID-19 can increase your stress. Therefore, keep a limit on your usage of social media.
- Stay Informed- But Don't Obsessively Check the News: It is important to stay informed about the COVID-19 outbreak so you can take the necessary safety precautions and slow down the spread of coronavirus. However, there is no need to get obsessed with the updates as it can cause more anxiety. If you are overwhelmed by the news, step away from the media and ask someone else to share the important news with you.
- Focus on the Things You Can Control: There are many aspects of the COVID-19 outbreak that are uncontrollable. Trying to take control of those aspects will only create more anxiety. Instead, focus on things you can control, such as reducing your risk of getting infected.
- Stay Connected— Even When Physically Isolated: Being physically isolated does not mean you have to lose connection with your family and friends altogether. You can make video calls, phone calls, and use messaging platforms and social media to stay connected with them.
- Handling Stress as a Parent: Keep in mind that everyone in your family is feeling a certain level of stress right now. Recognize that feeling lonely, bored, fearful, and anxious are typical in such a stressful situation. Communicate with your family, friends, or health professionals for support if needed.
- Take Care of Your Body and Spirit: Make sure to engage yourself in self-care activities, such as staying active, exercising, meditating, eating healthy food, and getting plenty of sleep, if you want to keep your stress level low during this outbreak.
- Help Others : During a time of crisis like this, people who focus on others in need and support their communities tend to be healthier and happier. Therefore, try helping others who are in need as it can help you as well.
- Keep Your Routine: Try to maintain your routine as much as possible. For example, keep your family's mealtime and bedtime routines consistent.
Plan Activities to Keep Yourself Busy Try to plan activities with others, such as playing board games, puzzles, or watching movies virtually so that you can keep vital connections with others and your mind busy.
If you want to learn more about how to manage stress and take care of your health during the COVID- 19 outbreak, contact us today!
