HOW TO SURF YOUR STRESS DURING AN EPIDEMIC AND ISOLATION
1. RE-FOCUS
Instead of fearing for your own health and trying to protect yourself (most of us are likely to get the virus sooner or later anyway):
a) focus on protecting others from yourself. You can be a carrier of the virus. So, protect those who really need to be protected: the elderly, chronic patients and doctors. No matter how you try to protect yourself from the virus, you will always be one step behind, scared and alarmed. If you focus on protecting others you need to do the same things as protecting self, yet work ahead of the curve, regain control, confidence and ... the feeling that you are "GOOD" :)
b) focus on building up your health and resilience, to feel better, to develop healthy habits while isolated at home.
2. CREATE NEW ACTION ALGORITHMS instead of those that are now impossible or useless.
When your familiar action algorithms are disrupted it is natural to experience loss of control and anxiety. Yet, you can plan new projects to gain the benefits from the actual situation. You have one such project already: build up your health. Plan one more: work, development of competencies, language learning, etc. Plan your progression and start step-by-step execution. Such projects create the value for future, yet instantly daily engagement and progress will already structure your time and boost joy and inspiration.
3. DEVELOP RELATIONSHIP. CARE FOR OTHERS.
We are all a little stressed :) someone more, someone less. It is natural to run out of patience, and to become bit irritable, but not good for ourselves and for those around us. Therefore:
1) notice and encourage any manifestation of the capacities of everyone whom you meet, inspire them;
2) try to understand the needs of your loved ones and take care of them;
3) notice your emotions and do not let them ruin your life and those who meet you.
4. AVOID PSYCHOLOGICAL VIRUSES AND FILL IN YOUR PSYCHE WITH WHAT IS USEFUL
Just turn off all emotional opinions and news coloured with subjective hysteria and lacking concrete information. NO JOURNALIST REPORTS!
Get information from reliable expert sources.
Keep track of the actual decisions of the administration of the country and city where you are located (all measures are most effective if we all act together).
Look for information and stories of people who are constructively dealing with a situation that will inspire you.
Focus on the following questions: What exactly has changed in your life and around you? What peoples’ needs are actualized? How can you help? How can you benefit from this situation?