Managing Life (and Your Stress Level) in Times of Turmoil

Source: 149319139 Motortion/Dreamstime

There is no rule book for what’s happening in the world today with COVID-19. People are being asked to stay home. No work for many people, no travel to see loved ones, no time at the gym to recharge and keep one’s body in shape, and no sitting down over a cup of coffee to connect with a friend. It’s unprecedented in a world where people are used to living freely and doing what they want, when they want to and with whomever they might choose.

For some people, this can be a time to recharge batteries. You must not just slow down, but come to a full stop. For people who live lives of constant activity and frenetic running here and there, stopping can be healthy—albeit uncomfortable.

Many people (greater than 50% of the population) live paycheck to paycheck, and wondering when work will start again, or how you will get paid, can color everything else you are doing. How can you rest when you aren’t sure whether your rent will get paid next month?

It’s important during these times to take care of yourself—mentally, emotionally, and physically. Staying strong and healthy is imperative to keep a clear head and find the answers you need not only to be stronger, but also to stay alert to opportunities and next steps you can take.

As you hunker down with too much time to worry, consider taking some of these steps to strengthen your resolve:

1. Keep updated but don’t feed yourself full of the news every minute of every day. Having too much time on your hands means you can access social media and a non-stop stream of updates and news stories. Staying connected somehow is important, but consider phone calls to friends rather than Instagram or Facebook. Too many stories of defeat and fear will permeate your being and make it harder to keep a positive attitude of any kind. Assign yourself a number of hours each day for these activities and stick to it.
2. Use the time to do something you haven’t had a chance to do. Experts say you should “pretend you are moving every three to five years." Do you have closets to clean out? Junk drawers that are overflowing? Clothes that should be donated? Take the time to do some clearing of your physical space of things you don’t need, and that might even weigh you down. It can lighten you up to unburden a messy space.
3. Make phone calls to those who are shut-in and lonely. For many people, especially the sick and elderly, this time is terribly isolating. Even family members cannot visit many of the nursing homes and rehab facilities. There are people living alone who now cannot get out to a coffee shop or store just to be around others. They are sometimes physically limited and frail, so they cannot do much except sit and read or watch TV. Make phone calls to anyone you know who is stuck inside, and call your local nursing home or rehab and offer to talk to someone you don’t even know. You might “meet” someone new, and even a small break in the day is helpful for someone who is shut in.
4. Learn something new. You can buy a book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, if you have the financial means, or watch a YouTube video if you need a free resource, but maybe it is time to learn how to knit, or speak Spanish, or do a one-handed push-up. Think of something you would like to master, or simply learn more about, and investigate it. Not all information sources have been cut off, so find something that could inspire you and after you emerge from this crisis, it will give you bragging rights about some new skill you’ve acquired.
5. Put on music and dance in your kitchen. Put in your earbuds or turn up the speakers and play something that makes you happy. Whatever your physical ability, take a few steps around or just sit and sway to the music. If you are more physically capable, make it a workout. Sing and dance to your heart’s abandon!
6. Get outside. It’s snowing where I write this today, so wear appropriate clothing, but no matter what the weather, get fresh air. If you can go somewhere to listen to the birds (or even better, put out birdseed and watch them enjoy it), or you can be in nature, walk your dog or offer to walk for someone in your neighborhood or apartment building. Whatever you do each day, spend some time communing in nature. Even in the city, find a quiet spot (there aren’t many people on the streets, so these are easy to come by now).
7. Volunteer to foster a dog or cat. In times of distress, the shelters become overwhelmed. People give up their animals and many more are let loose on the streets. No matter how much hunkering time everyone else is doing, shelter workers keep going—the animals don’t know there is a crisis and can’t take care of themselves. Shelters are in desperate need of people to take an animal and care for a cat, dog, rabbit, guinea pig, or other on a temporary basis. Contact your local shelters and see if you can help out somehow.
8. Be kind to everyone you do encounter. There is no need to fight at the grocery store. The supply chain is not broken, and the shelves will continue to be stocked. People who are working there are tired and afraid of what they are being exposed to—smile at them and say “thank you.” Obey the speed limit and crosswalk signs. Speak nicely and calmly, both in written word and verbal communication. Just be a good human. That’s the thing the world needs right now more than anything.
9. And lastly, wash your hands and don’t touch your face.