More ways to dial back your COVID-related stress

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COVID-related stress? Here are more ways to decompress

If you’re still feeling an abundance of stress or anxiety, both personally and professionally, due to COVID-19, you may be experiencing symptoms of “caution fatigue.” This term, coined by Jacqueline Gollan, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine (in Time magazine), refers to the impact this pandemic has had on the way many people now make decisions. Let’s examine more ways to dial back your COVID-related stress.

Likening social distancing to a draining battery, Gollan argues people were feeling charged at the start of the pandemic with a desire to flatten the curve. Over time though, that energy has waned, and folks are starting to feel drained, resulting in an increase of confirmed cases along with feelings of stress, anxiety, isolation and disrupted routines. So what can we do to dial this stress back?

View the infographic.

First things first, make sure you’re getting enough sleep, stick to a balanced diet, stay connected with family and friends however you can, exercise regularly, and find ways of your own to continue to relieve stress.

Here are some other ways Gollan advises you can work to decompress.

 

Reframe risks and benefits

Rather than trying to stay focused on abstract goals like improving public health or flattening the curve, which can be hard to stay motivated on in the long term, focus on how your individual behavior affects your chances of getting sick and spreading the virus to people around you.

Consider focusing less on productivity. Pressuring on yourself to renovate a room or learn a new hobby may not be best right now. On the other hand, some individuals might need higher levels of productivity, because work helps them cope better. People deal with stress differently. Listen to your body and your feelings to decide what works best for you. At the same time, respect the differing coping mechanisms of those around you. And be flexible with kids when they’re working (or not!) to complete remote assignments. Because we’re navigating uncharted waters, more patience is required.

 

Rebuild your routine

COVID-19 has likely reshaped your regular daily routine completely, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still make time for things you valued before the pandemic, like exercise and socializing. Creating a new normal as much as possible can be stabilizing, Gollan says.

Focusing on small segments of your new routine can also be a helpful way to combat uncertainty. If it’s hard for you to think about how long quarantine may stretch on, instead focus on the immediate future: tomorrow. Next week. Valentine’s Day.

Replicate your old routine when possible. Set your alarm for the same time you did before you began working from home. Get out of your pajamas and keep up with your daily hygiene. Routines provide structure which is essential to creating a sense of normalcy.

 

Put your media consumption on a diet

Just as you’ve learned to tune out certain sounds (dogs barking, TV and more) while working from home, “we get desensitized to the warnings [about coronavirus],” Gollan says. “That’s the brain adjusting normally to stimulation.” Give yourself a break from your newsfeeds and social media. Instead, something as simple as checking headlines from another part of the country (like your hometown) or reviewing a credible news source you don’t usually follow, could help your brain reset, she says.

If you are still feeling overwhelmed with COVID-related stress, here are resources you can turn to for help, depending on your situation, listed below.

 

Where to get immediate help for dialing back COVID-related stress

 

Get immediate help in a crisis

 

Find a health care provider or treatment for substance use disorder and mental health

 

Additional resources

For Everyone

For Communities

For Families and Children

For People at Higher Risk for Serious Illness

For Healthcare Workers and First Responders

 

Did you miss our earlier post with ways to beat the holiday blues and COVID-related stress? View it here.

Agents, take a look at our Workers’ Compensation Program to add to your portfolio of insurance solutions.

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