As we enter year two of the pandemic, psychosocial work on ourselves is required to prepare for a probable third wave or a continuation of the COVID-19 crisis. This includes examining the interplay of our ideas and behaviors in connection to the social variables influencing our life. It is necessary to remain calm amid covid times.
How do you maintain your mental health during a pandemic that bombards you with new images of death every day? What are some practical techniques for staying grounded while supporting loved ones, keeping up with the news, or promoting oxygen cylinder requests on social media? How can you compassionately attend to your own needs?
The essence of our survival of the third wave is perfectly encapsulated by Michael Nulty, author of Getting Beyond What Is: “Regardless of the situation we find ourselves in, we can choose how we respond to it. Even if we cannot change the situation itself, we can choose to change how we look at it and how we respond to it. And in our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
Here are some tips for you to remain calm amid COVID times.
Tips to be strong and calm amid COVID-19 times
The wisdom gained through hindsight
The ability to choose how we will respond to this wave, rather than simply reacting in a knee-jerk manner, is the first tool to add to your tip-list.
The advantage we have going into the third wave is that we’ve learned from our mistakes in the first two waves. We are considerably more positioned to choose our answer now that we have the benefit of hindsight. One of life’s basic facts is that we always have a choice – even if it’s just to choose not to react to a circumstance and instead to respond appropriately.
Acceptance is one of the first options we have when it comes to COVID-19. We may either spend our days fighting the virus and accepting that we have no control over its effects, or we can accept that the virus exists and that we have no control over how it affects our lives. We live in hope that the authorities are doing all possible to keep us safe, and one of those steps is allowing us to choose whether or not to be vaccinated.
The other option is to recognize that there are protocols that must be followed to protect our safety. Acceptance compels us to maintain a physical distance, wash our hands frequently, wear our masks in public, and sanitize our hands frequently.
The significance of mindfulness
Another tool, and one of the most beneficial daily decisions we can make for ourselves, is to choose to stay in the present now, to be mindful, and to practice mindfulness today.
Guilt, shame, and regret are all associated with the past, whereas fear is associated with the future. Everything is as it should be right now, in the here and now. When it comes to the virus, we must make the conscious decision not to project into the future, or we risk becoming paralyzed by fear. We can’t spend our days and nights worrying about getting sick or about our families’ safety. All we can do now is take the necessary precautions to stay safe and reassure ourselves that everything is fine right now.
Gratitude is the best attitude
The g-word: gratitude, is a third tool that will serve us well during the third wave. When we are afraid or uncertain, we prefer to focus on the negative; on what we don’t have rather than what we do have. Putting our energies and attention on the virus and the limbo it creates in our life will not help us.
Practicing gratitude for what we have daily helps us to stay optimistic and present. Gratitude is the polar opposite of self-pity. It can help us deal effectively with hardship, develop solid relationships, and even improve our health. It is one of the most valuable tips for being calm amid covid times.
Togetherness
While we’re on the subject of relationships, our next tool, and one of the most important methods to survive the third wave and maintain our mental health, is to work on our relationships. Do not isolate yourself. Keep in touch with loved ones and individuals you care about and who care about you, no matter what you do.
The antidote to many forms of mental disease is a connection. It has been shown to aid those with sadness and anxiety. Staying connected is counterintuitive. But it is the best thing to do for our mental health, despite our desire to separate when our mental health deteriorates.
Make it a point to connect with at least three individuals every day via Zoom, SMS, WhatsApp, Signal, Skype, or any other Google connection tool. We can communicate if we want to, and during a pandemic, we will need to.
When we are struggling, one of the most effective tactics is to step out of ourselves and do something for someone else. We can make ourselves feel better about ourselves and our situation by being of service to others. This is also in line with our overall aim of staying connected. Nothing improves our happiness or even our self-esteem more than doing prestigious activities.
It is okay not to be okay
It’s essential to understand and accept that it’s okay not to be okay. We are living in unusual, intriguing, and frightening times. If we are continually feeling nervous or fearful, it is crucial to identify these feelings and understand that we are not currently living in the usual.
If we can learn to be kind to ourselves and take extra care of ourselves while things are so chaotic, it will assist us mentally. We should make an extra effort to look after ourselves. Although the border between work and home is becoming increasingly blurred, we must work even harder to maintain a healthy work-life balance and not disregard our overall health.
We must eat properly and absorb all of the nutrients we require to stay healthy. We can improve our overall health by getting enough exercise or fitting 20 minutes of activity into our already hectic schedules. Furthermore, our spiritual well-being cannot and should not be overlooked.
If we believe in God or another higher force, spending time praying, meditating, and developing a close connection with that entity may be able to provide us with strength and guidance during this trying time. Remember that praying is talking to our higher powers, whereas meditating is listening to them. Meditation is an essential technique for being calm amid COVID times.
Reframe the negative
Turn a negative situation into a positive one. Consider the phrase, “I can’t handle the kids for another minute”. “Although the children are extremely challenging, there are only two more hours before their bedtime,” rephrase it. Now we see a way out; we are locking the problem in our negative state, whereas the reframing brings the solution/positive to the forefront.
Also, be aware when sadness turns into depression, and get help if you feel you require it. It is important to highlight that you should not isolate yourself. Keep in touch with your support system and ask them to point you in the right direction. When you or your loved ones are going through a difficult time, be patient with yourself and them. Making yourself vulnerable and asking for help will benefit both you and your support system. It will be easier for them to seek assistance when they require it.
Negative self-talk is detrimental to our mental health. Modify the negative narrative in your thoughts to a good one; we have the power to change what happens in our heads – use that power to your benefit.
Pro tip for remaining calm amid COVID times
Vulnerability is not a flaw; nobody, absolutely no one, is perfect. You will never be flawless because you are not perfect. Put that in your toolbox, accept it today, and get on with your life. We were all born with our flaws. Humans are pack animals because of their flaws. We wouldn’t need other people in our lives if we were perfect. As a result, you should not try to be a model citizen who is unaffected by these turbulent times. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and let go of the guilt and shame of not being perfect.
Overthinking is a real problem. It assists us in mentally escaping our heads and entering our hearts. Stop trying to improve yourself and start doing activities that make you happy. We can’t expect to feel better if we do activities that make us unhappy.
Life will happen whether or not we like it or agree with it. Accepting what we can’t change, we may relax and enjoy the trip.