How to Stay Calm and Centred During the Coronavirus Crisis

We are all on high alert right now, and this is understandable. But panic and negative thinking only add to our adrenaline output which lowers our immunity. South Africans are really good in a crisis, and really good at coming together to reach a common goal and to unite against a common energy. Now, more than ever, we need to tap into our sense of community and nation building.

As awful as the idea of 21 days of lockdown is to most people (some really do relish the idea of the stillness and relative calm), if we are able to see the experience as a gift of time rather than a punishment, I firmly believe that we will emerge stronger; as individuals, as communities and as a nation.

Now is the time to take very seriously the measures our government has put into place to protect all of us, and most importantly, the future of our nation. Now is the opportunity for all of us to make a meaningful and important contribution. Nobody is an individual during this time. Everything every one of us does or doesn’t do, impacts on the whole nation. (Yes, I am talking about washing your hands and staying at home).

As easy as it is to get sucked into the drama and the worry, the more positive and constructive we can stay, the healthier we – and everyone else – will remain. Try to not take the crisis and the lockdown personally. The whole world is experiencing this, not just South Africa; millions of people are being impacted, not just you or me.

Stay away from horror-mongerers and complainers, don’t be horror-mongerer or complainer, and appreciate all that our government is doing. Try to identify something to feel grateful for and appreciative of every day. If you are reading this then you have access to internet, electricity and -by extension- entertainment that the vast majority of our population does not have the luxury of. As inconvenient, uncomfortable and scary as the lockdown is for all of us, it is so much worse for most of us.

And remember that this will pass – sooner if we all #stayhome and #washourhands

In the meantime, here are some ideas to help us all to stay calm and centred:

• Be discerning about where you get your news and information from, and limit your information gathering and social media time to a set period a couple of times a day. If you stay glued to your news-stream all day you will put yourself in danger of information and bad news overload, and contribute to possible burnout and disease.
• If possible, go outside into the fresh air and sunshine every day. It will boost your mood as well as your immunity.
• Use the time off to do something you’ve always wanted to do but never managed to find the time: learn to paint, write a novel, practice singing or playing a musical instrument, cleaning out your cupboards, rearranging the furniture, starting a veggie garden….
• Connect with family and friends innovatively:
  • Netflix Party now allows people to watch the same movie or series at the same time and chat with each other while watching it.
  • Schedule family or social group meetups online. If your Thursday morning Bridge/yoga/bookclub can’t meet in person, have a Zoom or Skype session together.
  • Have a virtual dinner party; send everyone an invitation to connect online and you can all eat your dinner together. If you get really creative, you can even send out a menu so that you are all eating the same thing.
  • For people who are in isolation it is very important to schedule regular calls and times to connect with others.

• Help where you can. The best antidote to feeling helpless and hopeless is to do what we can to help:
  • shop for a neighbour
  • phone people who are isolated and check in on them and help them to not feel invisible, lonely and scared
  • buy vouchers for treatments you are not able to have now but that you can have in the future (this gives you something to look forward to while supporting the kinds of businesses that are really going to suffer in these times)
  • subscribe to online newspapers and journals
  • buy groceries online for people who don’t have the means or ability to and arrange delivery to their door
  • donate to organisations like Gift of the Givers or Meals on Wheels who look after the most vulnerable at times like this

This is a (hopefully) once in a life-time event and none of us have any experience with how to navigate these waters. We are all just making it up as we go along and doing the best we can. Remember to give yourself a break while finding compassion for the people you come into contact with.

We will get through this because we are South Africans, and we are resilient and resourceful and caring – and we always make a plan.

We are, as ever, stronger together.

Tags: be yourself | burnout | look after yourself | trust the process