Are you struggling not to be overwhelmed right now?
It’s natural that we’re going to experience the whole gamut of emotions and reactions right now, including fear and worry and anger and grief.
If you’re like me, you may have already had some sleepless nights in the past couple of weeks, and may be trying to find a way to strengthen your resilience and your health and minimize your emotional reactivity in this time.
I know for myself that panic and overwhelm can be risks for me, so I decided it would help to outline the strategies I’m using to minimize panic and overwhelm in these times, while maximizing my health.
I wrote out my broad strategy for myself, to help me organize my thoughts and support my intentions to maximize my health and minimize feelings of overwhelm.
And, once I wrote it all out, I thought I would share with you how I’m thinking about and managing overwhelm, in case you would find it helpful.
We’ve all heard it’s a good idea to focus on the things you CAN control in a situation that feels out of control.
As I strive to do this in this ever-changing situation, I am focusing on the things I understand I CAN and SHOULD DO to stay safe and healthy and minimize the risk of contagion at this point in this pandemic.
And I am reflecting on the question of how to best manage the “news” and information in this world right now. Given the way my nervous system is wired, I can feel frightened and out of control easily.
So, in this time, rather than worry about getting things all perfect, I’m striving for serenity, to do what I can and not get overwhelmed about the things I can’t control.
First, it helps me to recognize that it’s not an endless number of different things I need to do.
When it comes to protecting our health in times of pandemic, just like with changing our eating to strengthen our health and achieve a healthy, sustainable weight, there are a few actions that make a difference.
And doing these actions consistently, and to certain standards, can make a very real difference that truly impacts our health and well-being.
With my eating, I committed to doing these few things quite fully, and it paid off in terms of greatly improved health, resilience, and well-being.
So, now, with these few things that are consistently recommended for staying healthy in these early days of the coronavirus pandemic, I know I can commit to them and do my best with them. I can learn how to do them right, and I can make them my habit.
Following is my brief list of important actions, and some of the points I’ve learned so far about how to do them well, so they make a difference. And I’d love to hear if yours are the same or different, based on what you’ve been learning.
- MAINTAIN DISTANCE from OTHER PEOPLE, assuming you or they may be infected and seeking to minimize contagion. STAY HOME as much as possible. Scientists and doctors are sharing the perspective that “social distancing” can make a HUGE difference in containing the spread of a deadly virus like this. So, I’ve focused on this and been striving to understand exactly what it means and how to do it. I check out reputable articles and videos on how to do this. For me, for now, until the virus has run its course more, it means I’m only going out as necessary. I’m planning my grocery shopping to minimize the number of trips I make, and striving to go organized, to get in and out and avoid the kind of wandering shopping behavior I might have engaged in in the past.
- WASH HANDS. Apparently, hand-washing with soap and water and friction is quite effective at killing the virus, thus we prevent its entry into our bodies by eliminating it from our hands. And this advice reminds me of the advice to eat abundant nutritious foods. Most people I know believe they’re already doing this but, when we look closely, they’re not eating ENOUGH of the live-giving foods, in their most nutritious form, to make the desired difference. Similarly, washing our hands most effectively to minimize the risk of viral contagion is something quite a bit more involved than we typically do. I have watched videos teaching how to do this, and they have been informative, and I am definitely washing my hands more thoroughly and more frequently than in the past.
- WASH SURFACES of things that could have been contaminated, such as packages I bring home from the store. It sounds like the first two priorities are of greater importance, but experts believe that washing surfaces can provide further protection from contagion. So, why not? Especially at this stage, while we’re still learning a lot and trying to have a real impact to slow the contagion so the healthcare system can keep up and save lives.
So, getting back to social media and the news, which can be a source of great overwhelm… here’s my strategy:
- I look at the information about HOW to do the 3 actions as effectively as possible. When they say to wash our hands, what does that look like? When they say to do social distances, I need guidance about exactly what makes a difference.
- In addition, I look for thoughtful and inspiring articles to help me manage fear and anxiety and to help me stay in CONNECTION. While we are physically distancing and that is painful, it remains very important that we maintain connection with friends and family, through phone calls, video conferencing, and messages. It is beneficial to maintain some connection with nature, such as taking a walk (maintaining 6 feet from others) or sitting out in the sun a little. And I find it helps to maintain connection with my highest self through prayer, study and reflection.
- And I try to ignore the rest, especially if it looks upsetting and doesn’t look like it will help me maintain health and minimize overwhelm.
And I must add that, now, more than ever, I believe it is very important to maintain a healthy connection with your body and brain through healthy eating, engaging in some exercise, and avoiding intoxicating substances.
And, of course, most of my messages to you will continue to be about this topic.
But, now, when it comes to minimizing overwhelm and maximizing health, what are your best strategies?
Are you finding the amount of information and advice on the coronavirus to be excessively anxiety-provoking?
Do you have a short list of empowering actions you can take right now to maximize your health while minimizing your overwhelm or sense of panic? What are they?
What’s ONE ACTION you can take RIGHT NOW that will be positive for your health? Whether it’s eating a delicious meal full of life-giving foods, chugging a glass of water, or calling someone you love, taking action helps reduce the fear and augment your healthy functioning.
Finally, in reducing overwhelm and strengthening your resilience, I want to invite you to consider whether it would be helpful to reduce the amount of news or social media right now.
I’d love to hear how you’re experiencing this situation we’re in, your thoughts and feelings, and your strategies for maximizing health and minimizing overwhelm in these times. Please just respond to this email and let’s share our best ideas.
Together, we will get through this! Sending you love and calming, centering energy,
Dr. Ginny