Ways to Cope With the Stress of COVID-19

Welcome to our new, albeit temporary, normal: life in the US during the coronavirus pandemic. With the spread of COVID-19 around the country in the last few weeks, it seems like day to day life has completely changed for all of us, and we’re not really sure how long life will be like this.

If you feel isolated, confused or overwhelmed, you’re not the only one. We’re all adjusting to our new normal, and even though we don’t know how long it will last, this is a temporary situation and we are all trying to cope the best we can.

If you’re struggling, here are 5 ideas we think may help:

Journaling

A lot of us are in survival mode right now, so you may not have even had a chance think about your feelings yet, and journal can be a safe space to do that. Remember, when you journal you don’t have to write anything deep or fancy – just write whatever comes to mind and do your best to not judge yourself. Journaling is a great way to intentionally check in with your emotional and mental self.

Spending time outside

There’s nothing like fresh air and nature. Even though it’s important to keep your distance from others to help slow the spread of the virus, we are still able to enjoy the outdoors. Try to get outside for a little bit every day. You can even use the time you spend outside to meditate or turn off your devices so you can spend some time firmly anchored in the physical world instead of the digital one.

Moving your body

Moving your body doesn’t have to mean punishing physical exercise. In fact, taking the time to move your body is an act of self-care. The idea of moving your body can be a wonderful tool to help manage loneliness, overwhelm or anxiety.

Allowing yourself to rest

If you want to dive into new projects or skills, by all means do so, but you’re under no obligation to right now. If you feel like you don’t have the bandwidth to try to be productive during this time, that is okay. You don’t have to be productive all the time, and many of us are in survival mode right now.

Doing something kind

If you’re in a position to help others right now, try to come up with some ways you can do so while still following social distancing guidelines. Can you pick up groceries for a neighbor and leave them on their porch? Can you sew masks and donate them to a facility that needs them? Can you donate to some fundraisers of folks out of work by this crisis? There are lots of creative ways to help.

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