Three weeks ago we were all doing life as usual. We were following our daily routines of work and school; going out to dinner with friends; planning vacations over spring break; and looking forward to the change in season. After all, the groundhog promised us an early spring.
Then, the news coverage began. Each day, there are new positive test results for COVID-19. Life as we know it quickly changed, and the prognosis for the near future became scary. Schools have closed, people are strongly encouraged to telework, and now restaurants and bars are rapidly changing their business hours or closing all together. It’s a lot of change to accommodate within a short period of time.
While adjusting the way that we work and learn is doable with today’s technology, adjusting to the social isolation and the complete halt of our typical activities can feel overwhelming. This is especially true given that we don’t know how long this will last. Initially, activities were getting canceled and things were closing for the next 2 to 3 weeks. But recent press releases in the last few days have indicated that it could be up to eight weeks, or longer, before life returns to normal. Adding in the risk of contracting a virus that we still don’t know much about, and we have the recipe for fear, anxiety, and hopelessness
Though it may not seem possible to maintain a positive attitude right now, we must not lose hope. We must focus on what we can control and do our best to modify our environment in ways that are not only tolerable, but enjoyable. Hopefully, this blog can suggest some ways to make the best of life and continue to build resilience during what may be an extremely tough few months.
READ AND LISTEN TO RELIABLE SOURCES OF INFORMATION: to manage anxiety around the spread of the virus, as well as its impact on the world around us, visit credible websites with up-to-date data. These include the CDC, WHO, and your county government website for local data. Select the quality and quantity of your news coverage carefully: be cautious about reading many different sources of information that aren’t directly related to facts and recommended behaviors. Sometimes, you really can have too much information.
KEEP AS MUCH STRUCTURE IN YOUR DAY AS POSSIBLE: if you are working from home, taking classes, or simply hanging out at home much more than usual, it’s important to maintain structure. Start your day with some physical activity or mindfulness meditation, schedule times to speak with others, and set a timer to do work if necessary. This will prevent the days and weeks from running together and will increase your sense of accomplishment.
STAY CONNECTED VIRTUALLY TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY: regardless of your work or living situation, schedule times to talk with friends and family. Be intentional about making connections and engaging with your support network.
GET CREATIVE, LITERALLY: Explore your creative brain in whatever fashion peaks your interest. Cooking, drawing, painting, writing stories or poetry, playing a musical instrument, writing songs, or simply rearranging your furniture. Find your inner creativity and explore a side of yourself that you don’t usually give time to.
EXPRESS GRATITUDE: This might be hard right now with so many things put on hold and so many typical pleasures lost temporarily. But it’s not as hard as you may think to find reasons to be thankful. Each day, think of at least a couple of items that you can be grateful for, whether it’s physical health, stabile finances, the ability to work online, the opportunity for simpler living for a time, or the relationships that you cherish. Being grateful allows us to remember that life is not as grim as it may seem.
EMBRACE NATURE: even those who are not athletes can embrace nature with a simple walk in the neighborhood. It’s now spring, and there’s plenty to enjoy, whether it’s cherry blossoms, flowers in your garden, or a bright sunny sky. Enjoying nature can be emotionally rewarding and physically restorative.
These are challenging times for us all. But using these strategies can help make the best of a difficult situation. Right now try not to worry about or predict the future. We really have to just take life one day at a time.
Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash