In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that is currently bringing the world to its knees, it would not be out of the norm if you find yourself in a state of panic, worry, fear, and anxiety. From washing your hands every few hours to resisting the urge to touch your face, your emotional well-being is likely to be at stake. Social distancing and keeping six feet apart is challenging especially when you have kids.
Cases of infection globally have been reported. The media is not making things any better. News is filled with reports of deaths, which are concerning as numbers are rising by the day.
However, all is not gloom. There are several ways you can counter the effects of social-distancing. Let’s dive right in.
Maintain Your Routine
Changing your routine suddenly can take a toll on your physical and mental health. Quarantine does not mean that you should start doing things differently.
Do not disrupt your sleep-wake cycle, work hours and daily activities. Do not oversleep because of the free time we have in our hands.
If you are not used to working from home, familiarize yourself with online tools that will help you and your team achieve daily targets. You can arrange online meetings via Zoom. If you run a business, consider going online.
Stay Connected
Self-quarantine comes at the risk of losing friends and valuable relationships. Communication is a pillar in any form of relationship.
To ensure that you stay in touch with family and friends, make use of social media as well as phone calls and messages. Also, if you prefer video as a means of communication, make use of Skype, Zoom, and FaceTime.
You can also utilize this to rekindle old relationships. It could be with old friends from school with whom communication has not been regular. Tell them that you are there for them and assure them of your love.
However, you should tread carefully in this stage. If your relationship with them was toxic, then you better not contact them for the sake of your wellbeing. If it’d bring back old memories that would rather remain forgotten, then, by all means, don’t contact them.
Go for a Stroll
“No man is an island” John Donne.
Humans were created to be social beings. Many of us would seldom survive alone. This is especially if you are an extrovert by nature.
Take time to go out for a walk in the vicinity of your neighborhood. Of course, do this while still considering the social distancing rule.
Say hi to your neighbors. Introduce yourself to those who still don’t know you. One rule of thumb is always to make time to know people in the same neighborhood. Ask them how they are coping in this period. Take time to chatter as we have a lot of time now.
You never know who you may meet.
Keep your body, mind, heart, and imagination active
You should try to eliminate idleness during this period. Nasty and toxic thoughts creep in when you are mentally and physically inactive.
Do you see those books stacked up on your shelf that you haven’t read yet? How about you start with those. If you’d rather use your PC or phone, download an e-book and get busy.
Also, get a collection of podcasts, movies and TV series to watch during your free time. The emergence of Netflix makes this simpler. This could be a great way to unwind if you are not able to do so during the normal work routine.
Go back to an old hobby or develop a new one. This could involve painting, knitting, playing a musical instrument or singing.
Since e-learning is now booming, access to learning material online is now easy as it could ever be. This includes YouTube videos, online tutorials, e-books, and e-courses. You can opt for either free or paid material.
Focus on the Positive
With all news going round on mainstream and social media, we are highly susceptible to becoming victims of negative information. Make sure you do not fall for misinformation, rumors, fear-mongering, and fake news. The most important thing during this period is maintaining a positive mindset and attitude.
I am in no way negating the seriousness of this pandemic, but you also need to take care of yourself psychologically. For example, instead of getting anxious because of the increasing number of deaths, how about you focus on the number of recoveries? 94% of the reported cases are recoveries. If you focus on these numbers, you’ll prevent panic.
If you find the news distressing, then you can limit the number of times or the possibility of coming into contact with this information. You can minimize watching the news to twice or thrice a day and only from trusted sources.
Stay Healthy
This will require a higher level of discipline because we are now confined in the comfort of our homes. We spend many hours on the couch and in our beds.
Since gyms are also closed, you can try recommended home workouts for men as well as for women. The majority of these workouts are simple and inexpensive because you don’t require equipment or to move from your house.
Another aspect of staying healthy that tends to be ignored is diet. Trying to stay healthy without checking your diet would bear no fruits. Make sure you cook what you eat. Add more fruits, vegetables, proteins, and vitamins to your diet. Eat twice or thrice per day.
Also, stay away from drugs and alcohol. Consumption of these will lead to more anxiety, panic, and depression.
In Conclusion
You can be different by using these trying times to your advantage. Do not change your routine as this can negatively affect your body. Remain connected to your family and friends. Do not forget to keep yourself active and sharpen or gain a new skill.
Also, check your diet and health. Go out for a stroll or workout in the comfort of your home. Stay away from drugs and alcohol. Most importantly, remain positive.
If you follow these tips, you will come out of this better physically and emotionally.