How to Survive the Covid19 Crisis Mentally and Emotionally

The 5 Things NOT to do during the CV19 Crisis - and 2 that you should do!

Let's all take a deep breath and hold it for 10 seconds.  Now release and take a sip of water.  You have just accomplished three important tasks with little effort.  A) You held your breath for 10 seconds without coughing, a sign there is no Covid19 in your lungs; (B) You drank water which is good for keeping the mouth healthy and preventing CV19 from moving into your lungs; and most importantly, C)  You calmed down.

The best thing we can do for ourselves is to remain calm.  The actions we take are important to our wellbeing.  We can prepare for the best possible outcome or the worst possible outcome.  Since we have NO idea what is coming next, let's just chill, prepare for the best, and make today as joy-filled as possible. 

That doesn't mean ignore the crisis.  It means prepare sensibly; think positively, and live calmly.  If you avoid doing these 5 things, you may just make it through this without breaking down.

1.  Don't: Stockpile Toilet Paper.  

A clear sign of unclear thinking.  A clear sign of irrational panic.  Plus you know your friends are talking about you! There is plenty of toilet paper in the stores and failing that there is your garden hose!

2.  Don't: Think of the Negatives.  

Don't worry about how the rent will get paid or what will happen to your job.  Don't think about what will happen if you catch it.  Don't freak out about a post-apocalyptic world.  Stay positive.  This too shall pass.

3.  Don't: Scare your kids.  

We want them to be cautious and careful, but filling their heads with what could happen if they catch it, is like telling them the monsters under their bed are angry with them. What scares us often scares them.  Teach don't terrify.

4. Don't: Lock yourself away.  

For goodness sakes open some windows.  You need fresh air.  You need sunshine.  Don't deny yourself some outdoor times, it is as important to maintaining good health as washing your hands.

5.  Stop watching the news.  

This is not the haunted house at an amusement park you don't have to spend the day scaring yourself with all the new - and recycled - news stories.  Turn off the 24-hour doom and gloom and watch a funny movie.  All bad and nothing good destroys your peace of mind.

Remember to: 

1.  Prepare for a normal life, not the apocalypse.  Try to keep your routine as close to normal as possible.

2.  Use the newfound free time to work on a hobby or learn a new skill.  

When this is all over - and it will be - you don't want the memories of the experience to give you post-traumatic stress disease (PTSD)  A strong positive mindset now will keep you healthy for the future. 

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF "SHELTERING IN PLACE" DURING CV19 DRAMA

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
Michael McGriffy M.D.

10 THINGS TO DO WHILE WE PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THE SPREAD OF CV19!

For the health and safety of ourselves, our families and our friends, we are all remaining behind closed doors during this time to help prevent the spread of the deadly CV19.  But this doesn't mean we must cower in fear or die from boredom.  We are not only "At Crisis" but we are also "At Opportunity".  If we choose to think of this from the positive, we can turn this sad challenge into a great opportunity.

1.  Write that book!  Yes, we know.  "One day" you'll get to it, but work, meetings, events have all gotten in the way.  Well, now you are pacing the halls in utter boredom with cabin fever, so there is no time like the present to begin the greatest novel of all times.

2.  Take those classes.  Skillshare, Udemy, YouTube and a host of other platforms have free and cheap classes.  Want to learn Social Media, how to use your camera? Whatever the skill you've been meaning to acquire, you now have the time to make it happen.

3.  Have fun with new recipes.  I personally am not a cook, but recently I adopted a vegan diet and I'm learning about meal planning and nutrition.  I'm also experimenting with recipes.  What else can I do?  I mean, I'm home and I have the time.  By the time we emerge from our "isolation tanks", I'll be a world-class chef.  Okay, maybe not a world-class chef, but at least my neighbors won't have to worry I'll start a fire (again).

4.  If you have kids, now is the time to enjoy some family playtime.  They have these things called "Board Games".  They were out before video games and they can be lots of fun.  If you have young kids, I'm sure they've never seen one, and you could revisit your childhood while having lots of laughs and quality family time.

5. Clean out your closets.  You may not be able to get Goodwill to come by yet to pick up your donations, but wouldn't it feel great to sort through and organize a closet?  Bag everything up and put it in an out of the way spot so when normal life begins again you can have it all hauled out.

6.  Read. Read. Read.  If you're like me, you have a ton of books you plan to read "someday".  Well now is the moment.  Make a cup of hot tea curl up on the sofa and open a book.  Enjoy the opportunity to read uninterrupted by your Metro stop or the end of the lunch hour.

 

7. Detox bath.  Yes, indeed this is one of my favorites.  A hot bath with Lavender Bath Salts, Epsom Salts, Ground Ginger (in a tea ball so it doesn't get in your drain), and baking soda is luxurious.  It pulls the toxins and the stress from the body.  You can Google recipes for measurements and varieties.

8. Start a Journal.  You are home, but you are healthy.  You are bored, but you are blessed.  Start a Gratitude Journal and writing in it each morning.  Share your moods, your worries, your concerns, but begin and end with your gratitude.  Times may be chaotic right now, but if we can hang on to gratitude, there is no room for fear and worry.

Remain flexible, life is forever changing