Tips for keeping your calm in the midst of the covid-19 panic
1. Focus on what you can control.
It is easy to get caught up in the panic and chaos that seems to be spreading even faster than the virus itself, but panicking is one of the absolute least helpful things you can do during a time of crisis. When we feel helpless as if things are spinning out of control around us, the first step is to stop. Just stop. Breathe. Sit down and make a mental list (or even a written list!) of all of the things that you do have control over in the situation. We each have control over how well we practice hand hygiene, how we treat others during this time, and how much mental energy we spend soaking up the media information that surrounds us. The more you think about it, the more things you will come up with that you are in control of and it is in those things that your power lies.
2. Stay in the present moment
For some of us, coping with uncertainty is challenging. With the current situation, there are many unknowns and many more questions than answers. Schools are closed, businesses are closed, grocery stores are empty, families are stuck at home, and finances are suffering. Anything that is planned beyond today is resting on shaky ground. Staying in the present moment helps us to not get overwhelmed by the unknowns.
3. Engage in self-care
Speaking of media… Every where you look right now, you will see ever growing statistics and ominous predictions about the future. While it is important to stay informed, it is equally important to stay calm and emotionally healthy. Instead of scrolling through hundreds of facebook posts about mass panic and toilet paper shortages, sit down on the floor and play a board game with your kids, watch a movie with your spouse, or curl up in bed and read a good book. Consider painting a picture, crocheting a blanket, writing a poem, or listening to music. In a world full of panic, turn your home into a sanctuary of peace and calmness.
4. Get out of the house
I know, I know…we keep being told to stay at home in our little bubble and, yes, maybe you should. However, human beings can only stay in an enclosed space for so many days or weeks before losing their minds and turning on one another. There are ways to practice social distancing without locking yourself in your home for weeks on end. Why not hike through the woods on some nearby hiking trails, drive out to a local river and watch the water flow by, or do some work in your yard or on your house that you’ve been putting off for a while? Nature often has a way of putting things back into much-needed perspective.
5. Practice gratitude
Even in the worst times in history, there are stories of resilience and gratitude. During the holocaust, Anne Frank wrote, “I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.” Take this opportunity to reflect on how fortunate you are. If you have a home to withdraw into, if you have groceries and hygiene items in your home, if you have family and friends willing to help you and keep you company, you are more fortunate than many. Take a moment away from the panic to be grateful.
6. Extend empathy and kindness to others
Perhaps most importantly, use your power, your health, and your resources to help others who have less. Check on an elderly neighbor to see if they have what they need and to remind them they’re not alone. Mail some cards or coloring pages to a nursing home where the residents are currently isolated and probably more afraid than you are. If you bought up all the hand sanitizer and toilet paper in a moment of panic, consider donating some to a family who may need it more. Hopefully we can all come through this knowing that we did what we could not only to preserve our own health and well-being, but to preserve our integrity, our community, and our sense of shared humanity.
