We are facing a situation of constant changes due to the coronavirus and the impact is experienced differently in each person. An extraordinary situation in which we have to normalize feeling different emotions. Feelings of vulnerability, helplessness, fear, anguish, stress… are frequent and very normal adaptive emotions that arise and make us alert in order to be able to organize ourselves.
In the same way, we anticipate that these feelings and emotions will change as the days go by: they are adaptive phases to change. Therefore, we have to normalize and rationalize them, in order to feel that we have some control over the situation.
What strategies can be useful at this time?
- Try to maintain some basic routines as a means to normalize the day to day under the personal circumstances of each one: set yourself a schedule.
- Focus on what you CAN do: find your leisure and creative time by setting your own personal challenges.
- Help those around you: comply with the recommended safety and prevention rules.
- Focus on daily goals: concrete and achievable. This will bring you motivation and well-being.
- Share family time: encourage communication, play and shared responsibilities.
- Take care of your physical and nutritional health by avoiding a sedentary lifestyle: try to do a daily exercise routine and eat healthy.
- Your sleep hygiene is also fundamental: keep your alarm clock in the morning to give normality and order to the day to day, as well as at bedtime.
- Beware of overinformation: remember that an excess of information can be counterproductive, confusing and contradictory for your mood. We must always rely on truthful information and therefore we must be responsible in verifying our sources before disseminating them so as not to create false information that can destabilize us on an emotional level.
- Maintain social contact with family and friends through telephone and video calls. Social health is basic and brings us satisfaction, humor and good mood. It is also one more way to take care of yourself and others.
We must promote calm, patience and tranquility as tools for prevention and management in these uncertain times. As much as possible, let’s keep a positive attitude, it is basic and always adds up and unites.