FEATURE
Coping with Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic By Sandra Gottlieb, Esq. and Adrian Chiang, Esq.
T
he COVID-19 pandemic has caused major changes to our daily lives as we have been required to stay at home and minimize our contact with others outside our households. For many, this has taken a mental toll on our health. The effects of which show themselves most commonly in the form of stress affecting association members and those that work with them. But we are all going to make it through to the other side of the pandemic! Below are some suggestions from health experts and researchers about what we can do to protect our mental health during this time.
COPING WITH STRESS
1. Protect your physical health. Stress can have a major effect on our physical health. Fortunately, there are tangible steps you can take to help protect your physical health. Nutrition: Eating a well-balanced diet will help you feel better, and it may help control your moods. Try having meals that consist of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean protein. Eat your meals regularly as missing meals can make a person moody and increase stress.
Fitness: Research has shown that dedicating a certain amount of time each day to stretch and exercise (with no distractions) helps with stress---even if it is just 10 minutes a day. For those of us used to going to the gym, a walk or light jog in the neighborhood or exercises using your own body weight (for example, jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups) may be an effective substitute and can be done during short stints during the day. Sleep: Research overwhelmingly shows the positive benefits of sleep on stress. In fact, research has shown that 21% of adults feel more stressed when they do not get enough sleep. Failure to get enough sleep can also lead to feelings of sluggishness, irritability, and difficulty in concentration, as if listening to the gardeners and dogs barking is not enough. Experts suggest that individuals would be healthier and less stressed if they were to sleep an extra 60 to 90 minutes per night. We know-easier said than done! Staying clean: This seems like a strange one, but it isn’t once you think about it some more. Since most of us are spending more time at home with little to no visitors, we may feel less driven to tidy ourselves up and the areas we work in. Maintaining one’s cleanliness can be rejuvenating and having a clean working environment can make one feel less stressed.
“THERE’S NOT JUST ONE WAY TO DEAL WITH STRESS. SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU FIND A WAY THAT WORKS FOR YOU.”
2. Take a break to do things you enjoy. Just as it is important to dedicate time to fitness, it is equally important to dedicate some time to do the things you enjoy. For those of us whose favorite activities can’t be done during the State’s stay-at-home orders, finding a new hobby or trying something you always wanted to but never did can be just as rewarding.
3. Informing friends and family. The act of just talking about your day and what you are experiencing can help lower your stress. If you have family at home, try speaking with them about how you are feeling. Your friends can be contacted by telephone or video conferencing and should be happy to hear you out and share their experiences and feelings as well. Alternatively, you can give yourself positive “self-talk” such as “Everything will get better” or “I can do this!” to reduce stress. 30
Quorum July, 2020
