Tips for maintaining your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our daily lives up to the point of making it anxious, even scary for some. Under normal circumstances, dealing with uncertainty and ambiguity is a big challenge for most of us. The level of anxiety will inevitably skyrocket if we add a pandemic to our daily lives. Many uncertainties fall under COVID-19; many of these uncertainties are beyond your control, and, whatever your level of concern, this reality will not change. You are the sole master of the positive steps you can take to deal with the unpleasant feelings you are experiencing.
Currently, our duty as a citizen is to be at home, respect social distancing, and wash our hands. We have power over this. These gestures should not be trivialized.
2Defeat loneliness and stress from coronavirus
The coronavirus pandemic has profoundly changed everyone’s life. Loneliness is an aspect of social isolation and undoubtedly represents a significant and difficult challenge. But also an unexpected opportunity. Here are five steps to deal with anxiety and stress in the face of the new coronavirus:
1. Acknowledge and share your fears
It seems that the weight of the world is on your shoulders: you feel the need to protect others, especially those who depend on us (from employees to family members). Denying that you are afraid of this uncertainty, however, will only make the situation worse.
Refusal prevents you from building trust with your colleagues. Admit exactly what causes concern and create a support network: don’t fall into the isolation trend that surrounds fear. Compassion is your greatest ally.
2. Think about what you can control
It is a time of great uncertainty, but it is wrong to say that we cannot control anything. You can manage your attitudes. It is up to you to send a message to a friend, prepare dinner, or even change the course of your feelings.
We can see our anxious and stressful thoughts coming and going, like trains passing through a station. In the face of this fear, take control of the situation: act like a mountain in the face of a hurricane.
3. Continue what you were doing
In times of anxiety and stress in the face of uncertainty, try to resume the activities you used to do: you are still alive. For example, if you were in a group of women entrepreneurs, continue to chat even if using virtual means. If you love poetry, share a poem on social media.
4. Think about opportunities
It’s hard to see the bright side of this moment when you’re losing business. It is important to see the light at the end of the tunnel: It is the first time in years that you will not have to travel for work.
5. Practice compassion
Many workers cannot laugh at the situation. This is the case with secretaries who need to continue receiving clients, for example. We can try to remove this inequality, but it is best to face it. Whether you are thinking about that secretary or being that employee yourself, the answer is the same against anxiety and stress: give and receive compassion. Love overcomes not only hatred but our fears. Love your customers, your family, your friends, and yourself.”
