Take care of yourself

We are into the second week of the lockdown due to the Coronavirus and the initial shock has worn off although many of us are still dealing with the practical changes that this situation has presented us with. For some of us this just means a move to working at home but for others it has meant an overnight loss of livelihood and a huge financial pressure and of course for some, it has meant illness and loss. There is a great deal online about how we must be creative during this time and this has replaced the jokes and memes that characterized last week. I am not a big fan of this despite being someone who is 100% invested in people reaching their potential, creating or doing whatever it is they want in order to feel happier and more satisfied in their lives but this is not the time to put undue pressure on yourself.

It is so important to remember that we are not just staying home, we are staying home because we absolutely have to, and that living through this time is a trauma and so it’s a must to be really kind to yourself and to others by lowering your expectations. Sure, if you want to write a book or start creating your new business then by all means, go ahead but please don’t put yourself under undue pressure to complete a project at this time. If you feel the urge to do something creative then that can be very therapeutic and relaxing BUT, if at any moment the relaxation that the tasks engender is replaced by anxiety or feelings of failure because we can’t seem to get motivated to complete the project, step back, take a break from it and remind yourself that it is okay just to get by during this time.

Once we are out of lockdown, we will be back to a normal but it won’t be the normal that we have known, it will be a new normal and we will have to adapt once again which will also cause us stress. During trauma parts of our brains shut down so that we don’t process what is going on around us. This is a coping strategy and this can mean that we are not in touch with our true feelings. In order to survive this period, we have to be out of touch with our emotions because it is not possible to process trauma whilst experiencing it

Here are a few things that can help:

1. Boost your immune system as much as you can by eating as healthily as you can, exercising regularly – even if only walking around your living room or dancing to a tune that you love – and getting enough sleep. Sleep is known to boost the immune system. These things seem very ordinary but in fact they have a profound effect on your immune system which will protect you from having a serious case of the virus but also they will support your body to support your emotional state which is essential at this time.

2. Do as suggested by the government and go outside daily. Taking a walk outside in the sunshine will do you the world of good. If you can, go to a park where you can be in nature so that your body and mind can be soothed. Take some really deep breaths to oxygenate your body.

3. Acknowledge your emotions and if you can, speak to a family member or a friend about how you are feeling. Acknowledge it because trying to suppress it will mean that the feeling can grow or appear in other forms as impatience and anger. You can use a journal to record your feelings. Journaling is known to help release negative emotions and so giving yourself time to practice extreme self-care and do things that will help is really important.

4. Set up a what’s app group of family or friends so that all the members of the group can check in with one another each day just to see how you are all feeling. That way if one of you is feeling low, then the others can give support to that person. Zoom and FaceTime are really coming into their own, lots of people are already having FaceTime parties to celebrate birthdays for example.

Whatever you do, reach out for support if you need to and take really really good care of yourself.

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