From Guest Writer Brenda Loan Baker, Executive Coach, Fortune Management Northeast
On every social media platform you can find numerous memes about 2020 being the worst year ever. For most of us this lock-down has been going on since mid-March, seven months now. To some it seems like a lifetime.
Early on in the pandemic, people experienced fear, for themselves and their family. Most of us have never experienced something like this and the unknown can be overwhelming. As we continued in our lockdown we rode a roller coaster of emotions. Some made the time useful cleaning out closets and starting new exercise regimes. Others worked harder than they had ever before. Some trying to position their business and keep up with the whirlwind of information to determine what was allowed and best for their situation.
Whatever your ride thus far in the pandemic has been, most of us are hitting the ?covid wall?. A study published by Harvard University shows more than 90% of Americans are struggling emotionally as a result of the pandemic.
Take some steps to come out from behind the wall! Here are a few ideas.
- Create some structure to your days. Go to bed at the same time. Our psyche craves structure.
- Exercise ? count you daily steps, set a timer and walk up and down stairs or around the house, any movement is good movement.
- Be mindful of how long and how often you watch the news. It is repetitive and anxiety inducing.
- Remain Social, find ways to connect with others.
- Get creative and think outside the box to do the things you love that fill your tank. If you crave travel, virtual tours may fill some of the void.
- Take time to rest. This includes watching your work hours. Set boundaries when working from home.
- For those who are working through it, perhaps in healthcare, most of which face the overwhelm of backlogged patients and longer, full days, rest and ?filling the tank? become exponentially more important.
Try some of the things to reduce the overwhelm caused by this pandemic and these times. If you find yourself still struggling, reach out for help from someone you trust or a professional.
We do not know what is around the corner. In the meantime, do the things you can. Wear your mask, wash your hands, take care of your physical and mental health. Live in the present and try to find good in every day.
For a power coaching call to help you come out from behind your covid wall, contact adminne@fortunemgmt.com.