How to Keep Your Mental Health During Pandemics

A Roundup of things people do to help stay sane and keep peace of mind.

This roundup written by Don Martin. You can see more of his writing here. There will be more on this subject to come.

Allison Rosen is a cancer survivor writing for M D Anderson Cancer Center

Taking sensible steps to protect myself

I’ve been avoiding people, started working from home as soon as it became a pandemic. Now, if I go out for a walk, it is just around my block a few times, avoiding people. If I go somewhere else, I wear gloves and a mask, carrying disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer with me.

I get my groceries delivered, and wipe down all containers before putting them away. When I get restaurant food delivered, I take it out of the original package and reheat it in the microwave. I’ve even started dropping my keys in a separate bowl and disinfecting them before putting them back in my purse. I wash the clothes I left the house in as soon as I get home.

Practicing better self-care

Normally, I wouldn’t have time to do things like cook or meditate.

My solution has been to go online. I’ve been surprised by the free wellness support that’s available . I’ve done yoga classes, meditation and breathing exercises, among other things on line. It seems like there are activities available literally at any hour.

I’ve also been finding a lot more time to cook.

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Deepening old relationships — and forging new ones

One unexpected and ironic benefit of social distancing is thar it’s bringing me much closer to people.

I have siblings who live in distant cities. Before COVID-19 started, we only talked every once in a while. Now, we talk almost daily. We’re always checking in on each other.

I’ve also gotten to know some of my Zoom dance classmates better. I’ve met kids and pets and gotten to know people better. It’s been really fun and an unexpected surprise.

My older friends and I socialize, too. I had a coffee date recently via FaceTime. My friend and I sat and talked in just the same way we would’ve if we’d been at a coffee shop together. I feel less alone when I’m connecting with others.

I’ve met some new people through online tools, too.

Savoring memories of good times and anticipating new ones

The last thing I’ve been doing to maintain my sanity is savoring good memories. I turned 40 on March 6, and I had a giant birthday party. Social distancing wasn’t a thing yet, so I got to see a lot of my friends. About 80 people came and celebrated with me. We had an amazing time that I will never forget.

Little did I know, that party would prove to be my own (and many other people’s) “last hurrah” — at least, for a little while. I created a scrapbook to remember it, then shared a collage and video montage of it on social media. Now, I’m imagining all the new memories I’m going to create, once this coronavirus is behind us.

John J. Murphy is The Mindful Leader, an author and coach

We can all look at the same thing and interpret it very differently, depending on what we hold in mind – a person, a virus, a layoff. It isn’t anything “out there” that upsets us. It is what we think of out there that upsets us. If you find yourself constantly stressed and distracted during this pandemic over abstract fears regarding it and what may happen rather than what is currently happening,

Step One: Let Be

“It is what it is. We cannot change the present. Learn to accept it and grow from it. Be mindful. Be awake. Be aware. Be contemplative. Be present. Be patient. Be kind. Quiet the mental chatter with deep breathing and meditation.”

Step Two: Let Go

Let go of the ego. Let go of the fear. It may seem hard, at first, to let go of what you’ve been carrying, but as you practice letting things go it will become easier.

Step Three: Let See

See anew when you release the blinders you didn’t know you were wearing.

Step Four: Let Flow

Flow is what is meant to be. It is sacred. It is forever flowing. It is health and well-being, divine intelligence, directing every cell in our bodies to know what to do. It is day and night, summer and winter, power and grace – always in perfect harmony and balance.

How do we experience more flow and inner peace in life? We feel it when we see it.

Four steps to more inner peace: Let be, let go, let see, and let flow.

Want a shortcut? Be thankful, even for your problems. They are trying to tell you something. We reap what we sow. Every problem is a lesson and a solution in disguise.

Corinne Flammer, counselor, speaker, author EMS advocate – EMS World

1) Stay Informed

Knowledge‌ ‌is‌ ‌power. Knowing‌ ‌what‌ ‌is‌ ‌truly ‌going‌ ‌on‌ will allow you to make the most educated decisions about how to be prepared for what comes next. A word of caution: Confirm your sources are reliable; there are tons of misinformation out there.

‌2) Stay‌ ‌Focused

Many times in EMS we know what’s right, but find ourselves getting complacent. It is even more difficult ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌focused‌ in the face of ‌fear.

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3) Monitor Your Physical Health

Ensure you’re eating well at every opportunity. ‌It‌ ‌is‌ ‌common‌ ‌to‌ ‌want‌ ‌comfort‌ ‌foods‌ ‌at‌ ‌times‌ ‌of‌ ‌stress! ‌Plan‌ and prepare meals and take your food ‌to‌ ‌work. ‌Be‌ ‌sure‌ ‌to‌ ‌stay‌ ‌hydrated!‌ Take time to rest and sleep; if possible, ‌nap‌ ‌early‌ ‌and‌ ‌often.‌ ‌When‌ ‌home‌‌ ‌try‌ ‌to‌ ‌keep‌ ‌a‌ ‌regular‌ ‌schedule.‌ ‌Exercise is also valuable to relieve stress; enjoy a quick walk or online yoga class.

4) Feed Your Soul

Spirituality, religion, and individual belief comprise a sensitive subject and differ for everyone. In these times it is important to stay connected to your beliefs and value system. Remember to exercise, and meditation is a great way to stay focused.

5) Share Your Experiences

Start journaling‌ about what you’re encountering. Remember, this is new to everyone; it is your experiences that make you the expert on what you’ve seen and developed to handle this horrible pandemic. Journaling is a great way to remember‌ ‌what‌ ‌you have‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌thankful‌ ‌for. ‌Writing down even as few as three‌ ‌things‌ ‌every‌ ‌day‌ will be helpful. We all have good things that happen every day. ‌We‌ ‌can‌ ‌all‌ ‌find‌ ‌something‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌thankful‌ ‌for. Write just for you. There is benefit to journaling, even if no one else ever sees it. ‌

6) Look Ahead

This won’t last forever. We don’t know when, but an end will come. Plan something for yourself when this is all over. Give yourself a reward for all you’ve been through. Plan a vacation, schedule a family reunion, plan on learning something new, maybe buy something with your stimulus check. Whatever it is, look ahead and keep a vision for the end.

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