Being your best while in isolation
Dealing with the pandemic? Dealing with stress from the pandemic? Juggling stress with all your duties at work, at home, and beyond? Sometimes it all seems too much to handle.
The above are all questions that we talk about a lot, whether it’s at a casual dinner conversation, over Zoom, or just in passing with strangers. For the world, talking about the pandemic and its effects have become the equivalent of talking about the weather—rich fodder for small talk.
There’s no denying that COVID-19 has affected everybody in some way and has had a significant impact on our lives. Though not everyone is equally affected (this will depend on the country someone lives in, their job, their family, etc) everyone’s feelings are valid and we shouldn’t dismiss what anyone feels.
We need to own our feelings and understand that although it’s ok to feel “down” at times, we should all have support systems made up of friends, family, and colleagues we can talk to. As the saying goes: “a problem solved is a problem halved”.
This new reality presents us with a new set of challenges: work has changed, social interaction has changed, and health and how we take care of ourselves have changed. Let’s face it, navigating this new normal is something none of us ever imagined we would be doing back in March 2020.
We need to ensure we take of ourselves. It is not selfish to put ourselves first sometimes.
According to, Dr. Christine Carter, Ph.D., a sociologist and senior fellow at the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, self-care is now becoming more important than ever.
“Self-care is not selfish. This is a period of extreme anxiety and stress,” Dr. Carter said. “Focusing on what nourishes us, on what gives us meaning, is part of easing those feelings and providing us with a more solid foundation.”
But what can we do to help stress?
1. Social media. Love it or hate it, it is there and giving us all kinds of truths! Don’t believe it, switch off and consider putting a news embargo on your time!
2. Sleep! This is one I found difficult but I am working on it. I now set my phone to go to sleep at 11:30 pm. Of course, I can still chat and read messages but only if I want to. It no longer disturbs me with that irresistible light that just draws you in to look, read and wake up, disturbing that all-important rest your body needs.
3. Physical Activity – I say ‘activity’ not ‘exercise’ as that word scares most of us, regular mortals! But doing something and moving the body does release endorphins, improves attention, and improves sleep. We know this, but sometimes we still don’t—so grab a friend, just go for a walk, walk to the shops, coffee shop, take a break, take a walk and you will feel in a better mood.
4. Hunger – working from home, the fridge is too close and the temptations are there. Stop, wait a minute, drink some water and that urge will fade, but if it doesn’t, don’t get too upset! It is ok to falter, forgive yourself, and then reset and start again because what is a bar of chocolate between friends anyway?! Another way is to have protein foods ready at hand: hard-boiled eggs, greek yogurt, and peanut butter on apple are delicious options that will give a great boost between meals.
5. Take a break! It is allowed, even when you work from home you can have a coffee break, sit outside, watch your favorite TV show. One of the challenges that come from working at home is that you can start earlier, leave later, and have back-to-back online calls! This is not normal and you need time to process meetings, to-do’s, and action points. If you find it hard, plot it onto your diary as admin time, block it off to give you the time, your work won't suffer you will find you are even more effective.
According to Jen Sincero, a life coach and author of You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, the “self” component of self-care encompasses how you perceive yourself and, more crucially, the language you use when talking to yourself. Whether it’s a work assignment, finding time for exercise, or preserving your patience when disciplining your child, appreciate the tiny chores you do throughout the day and remember to tell yourself “good job.” Positive self-talk can help you celebrate your everyday accomplishments. Your brain will drink up all of that self-care goodness, and studies show that it may start to shift your thoughts and feelings in a more positive way.
We are living in a world that has changed, it is OK to have your concerns and worries, don’t compare your stresses to others, forgive yourself and remember, have a circle of trust, eat well, move that body, take a break, get some sleep and get off negative social media!