By: Yhanna Gleighnix Santiago
The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way we live, from our work to our learning and to our social lives. Our new reality poses a unique set of challenges for all of us. This pandemic is an unprecedented crisis that requires us to develop critical stress-coping mechanisms as we protect ourselves against infection. Much like a natural disaster, this pandemic is likely to cause psychological distress among the public. But the COVID-19 pandemic differs from other mass trauma events in ways that make it undeniably toxic. It is large geographic scope, unpredictable in nature, and the sudden wide-spread disruption to our economies and health systems (Wise, 2020).
Self-care can include multiple practices that you find both enjoyable and that in some way promote your physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental health. According to the definition from the World Health Organization (WHO) self-care is the habit you do to take care of your own health and can include hygiene, nutrition, leisure activities, sports, exercise, seeking professional healthcare services when needed, and much more.
And in the middle of a global pandemic, the need to care for our own health, all aspects of it, is of the utmost importance. Navigating this new normal is not easy. Whether it is struggling to get your kids to partake in online learning, productively working from home all day long, sharing tight quarters with housemates for much longer hours than you are used to, or being cut off physically, at least from loved ones, we feel you. It is important to pause for a moment and collect your thoughts, as worldwide pandemics can be taxing. Remaining calm can help.
Here are the tips and different health-related reminders for the Caviteños: Make sure to check yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally. Self-checking is important to know what and how is the condition of your well-being. Find a place where there is nothing but silence. Relaxing is healthy for our mind and body. It offers us opportunities for daydreaming and self-reflection, which activates multiple parts of the brain. It gives us time to turn down the inner noise and increase awareness of what matters most. And it cultivates mindfulness recognition and appreciation of the present moment (Health Essential, 2020). Do your best to eat nourishing meals, like those rich in fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Those foods can help keep your body and mind healthy during stressful times. You can also try gardening in your backyard. Gardening can offer us many pleasures if we just take the time to stop and enjoy them. More essentially, the manual labor exercises your body while leaving your mind free to ruminate over anything and everything, something that is becoming increasingly rare in the frenetic pace of life. For managing symptoms of depression, some research suggests that elevated levels of aerobic activity, exercise that significantly raises our heart rates, may be associated with greater reductions in depressive symptoms. Each day is a new opportunity to engage in physical activity and exercise that can bring short and long-term benefits for mood, sleep, and physical health (Michigan Medicine, 2021). The pandemic has sent anxiety and depression levels upward, and it is also led to more people feeling like they are just not thriving. Talk about it, call a friend. Share your emotions with each other and by doing so, this also shows humanity.
Practicing self-care can help alleviate the psychological distress and anxiety caused by the pandemic and prevent lasting adverse psychological outcomes. The Canadian Mental Health Association recommends self-care as a coping strategy. And finally, remember, being kind to yourself will not only help you stay calm during this difficult time, it will help ensure that you have the bandwidth you need to take good care of your family. When you are running on fumes, caring for others can tax your already depleted resources to breaking point. But when you prioritize your needs, you are filling the tank, emotionally and physically, and that means you will be in a shoe to offer comfort and care to others when they need it most.
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