How to Stay Sane Amidst the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic

Let's face it! It's freaking real! It's here to terrorize our lives! What do we do about it?

Billions of people are working from home and schools are closing. Supermarket shelves are empty and people are crowding almost everywhere. Your senior citizen parents won't even take it seriously, even though it's all over the news.

There are so many sources of stress and anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s normal and humane to feel some stress and anxiety when a global contagious disease impacts every part of our lives.

Here are some ways to stay sane and cope with stress and anxiety amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

1. Mind and manage your social media time

There’s a very thin line between staying informed and feeding yourself with all the information then, feeling overwhelmed by the news. At times like these, knowing the headline is enough. Know the facts. And that's it! Don't indulge and drown yourself in it!

While you shouldn’t and can't avoid the news entirely, it’s important to just limit things to a minimum.

This is so true about social media, FB, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube can be filled with different contents about the pandemic. Some are real while some are fake. NO to FAKE NEWS!

Rely only on trusted and legit sources of information, such as the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Locally, you can also check the Department of Health advisories and posts from your LGUs. Then, give yourself a break from the news and social media from time to time, it's healthier that way!

2. Find other things to talk about

In stressful times such as this, taking advantage of your support network can be very helpful. Just make sure that you contact people who will give you emotional, moral, spiritual support and not who will amplify or aggravate your stress.

Keep in touch with your relatives and friends, ask how they are doing and if they are safe. Then shift and talk about other topics (like movies) so you’re not just talking about the current crisis and worsening each other’s worries.

If you find that your stress and/or anxiety is interfering with your job, school or interpersonal relationships, you should consider consulting to a mental health professional, like a psychologist or therapist. There are a lot of mental health professionals who are offering remote and online sessions, which you can take advantage of, especially now that we are advised to stay at home.

If you’re already in treatment for any mental health disorder, you should continue your treatments amidst the pandemic.

3. Stick to a schedule

Your usual travel and routine might be uprooted, especially if you’re staying and working from home, for now, but creating a new schedule or routine can make a difference. It can help a lot. Now that I'm sure that you feel as though a lot of things are changing around you, or that a lot of things are rapidly shifting to another, whether it's a good or bad change. It happens...

For instance, set a schedule for yourself if you have a shifting schedule that allows you to take proper breaks for meals and get enough sleep. Don't deprive yourself of sleep, please!

It’s also significant to continue working out and eating nutritional foods. Stay away from alcohol and drugs, as these can worsen your situation and can increase your anxiety. Boosting your immunity might help, too!

If you usually take a break on weekends with movies or cook your favorite meals, then, by all means, continue to do that and try to relax.

4. Give mindfulness a try

Not being sure of what tomorrow brings is one of the main reasons why people feel stressed about Covid-19, so live in the present moment. A great way to do that is to meditate or practice mindfulness, which will help you to focus on what’s happening with your emotions in the present moment and in a nonjudgmental way. Practice daily affirmations.

You can also try joining pages or groups that are into mindfulness and other mental health awareness programs.

5. Be there for others

It might seem like your life is chaotic right now, so it’s very important to focus your mind and actions on the things that you can control, such as washing your hands properly, practicing social distancing, and keeping your family and loved ones safe.

If you can, you can also help out your neighbors, relatives, friends, and colleagues. Hand out what extra you have and surely, they will be grateful and happy they have you. It will provide you and them some relief and happiness.

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another,” Charles Dickens says.

It’s a great indication that we’re all in this crisis together, and there are people who will support you during difficult and uncertain times. Additionally, do what you can to stay connected with family and friends, because the pandemic can be incredibly sad and isolating. Take advantage of technology nowadays to stay connected online.

6. Keep in mind that you're never alone

Fear is a normal response to things that people don’t know for sure and they feel threatened for their safety and the safety of their families. It's normal and it's humane, but don't let fear consume you.

As expected, information about Covid-19 is constantly changing. The virus has infected at least 1,487,870 worldwide, and 4,076 people in the Philippines, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, as of this writing.

During a pandemic, you might feel unsure and unsafe. You might have difficulty sleeping, be stressed and anxious, and stay at home and away from other people might create an imbalance in your work-life situation.

The thing to keep in mind if you are extra anxious? You are never alone. You have friends and family to support you. The government is there to provide support, too. It might take time, yes, but they are there.

And most importantly, pray. The Lord will never let us down. Ask for His guidance and protection. Know that you are righteous to receive His grace and favor. If you need to feed on God's word, you might want to listen to Pastor Joseph Prince. I personally feel safe and relaxed whenever I do.

Stay at home guys and stay safe. Hang in there! This too shall pass!