A New Normal: 3 Ways to Protect Your Mental Health and Maintain Focus During COVID-19
We are all adjusting to a new normal as the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus impacts how the world connects, works, and lives. With more than 1.9 million people infected, this global pandemic has heightened feelings of uncertainty as it disrupts societal norms and shines a glaring light on our country’s systematic inadequacies.
From the cancellation of public gatherings to the transition of work and school to online, our communities are looking to local and national leaders to take action and provide guidance to combat the implications the coronavirus has on our collective physical, social, and economic health.
Combatting COVID-19
Some communities are at greater risk than others to contract the unique virus. COVID-19 is transmitted from person to person through tiny droplets (like from sneezes or coughs) making essential workers like healthcare professionals, sanitation engineers, postal workers and grocery clerks particularly at-risk. This, coupled with a severe lack of proper medical supplies pandemic response systems, has proven to disproportionately impact lower-income, minority communities and those with hourly jobs poised to be impacted amid an economic downturn.
To combat the viral spread and ‘flatten the curve’ of cases, many of us have adopted social distancing — a practice recommended by the CDC and nationally put in-place until April 30 that requires households to self-quarantine and restrict outside travel except for essential needs like groceries and supplies.
Some cities like San Francisco, CA led by Mayor London Breed, have become a national model for effective social distancing. The city’s case count of 857 (as of April 10) has resulted in just 13 recorded deaths due to the coronavirus — a much lower figured than that in metropolises of comparable size such as New Orleans, Detroit, Boston, and Washington, D.C. The city’s curve is low and patients are not flooding into its emergency rooms.
As leaders work to develop and test a coronavirus vaccine, the rest of us are left reeling in the aftermath of these recent, sweeping changes. In fact, a tracking poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 45% of Americans feel that worry and stress related to coronavirus has had a negative impact on their mental health, up from 32% in early March.
So how can you try to best to keep calm, maintain healthy thinking, and even be productive in this time of uncertainty?
Below are three tips you can try:
#1 | Create Some Structure and Build a Routine
Whether you’re working from home, starting a new hobby, or catching up on some well-needed rest, building structure around your day will provide a sense of normalcy and focus. Most of us are used to a definite start and end times to our day, filled with multiple interactions and even a commute in between. The sudden elimination of even the slightest routine as we adjust to virtual living can present new challenges in accomplishing tasks and add to feelings of anxiety. The incorporation of healthy habits on a schedule that works for you will help combat this and can have positive impacts on your perspective of productivity while social distancing.
#2 | Recognize Your Triggers and Know When to Avoid Them
Media sources are working to provide the latest information and commentary on COVID-19 in an already rapidly moving news cycle. From evolving data points to social commentary, the masses are receiving conflicting, urgent messages from nightly newscasts, social media timelines, and personal conversations at every turn. It’s important to recognize the types of information or news that raises your blood pressure a bit, Whatever it is — stay away from what tends to stress you and take in reliable sources that give you accurate, practical info. Low-tech and no-tech solutions, like outdoor walks and keeping a written journal, will help shift your attention from the news and establish a sense of calm.
#3 | Connect with Loved Ones (That means you, too!)
It’s normal to feel sad, stressed, confused, and angry during a crisis such as a global pandemic. In a time such as this, speaking to those we trust can help to promote relatability and potentially ease your not-so-wanted and overwhelming emotions. Now is a great time to slow down, accept the current circumstances, and take some time to connect with those you haven’t been able to — including yourself. This can be taken as an opportunity to pick up that book that’s collecting dust, learn a new skill, or catch up on the documentary you’ve had saved for quite some time if you choose.
This is a cultural reset and an opportunity to establish a resilient, mentally healthy global community rooted in empathy and human decency. Overall, this moment in society is about taking care of ourselves and those around us. Take a moment to honor your emotional and mental need, and take the necessary steps to maintain its health.
