Chronic creative and freelance writer, Tami Magnin, takes us through the crowd-sourced coping mechanisms that can make navigating this pandemic easier.
Ever felt like the world has been turned upside down, or found yourself faced with unexpected challenges that have left you reeling? Here are a few ways to find your way through obstacles that will leave you feeling like you can hang in there for just a little while longer.
Before this pandemic, there were 3 Ds that used to be the most common causes of finding the bottom falling out of your world: Death, Divorce and Drugs. Whether dealing with the death of a loved one, finding yourself in the process of splitting up or helping a family member cope with addiction, those triggers often caused a monumental shift in your life, either temporarily or permanently.
Covid-19 has changed the face of the Earth, and the economy in many more ways than initially anticipated. Aside from the risks to health, people are finding themselves having to contemplate job loss, getting paid less while working more or having to work all the hours of the day as they are finding themselves living at work, rather than working from home.
In an age of social media and smartphones, having information at our fingertips is an easy way to get overwhelmed, simply because tuning out doesn’t seem like an option. From Facebook and Twitter to newspapers and television, bad news floods into our lives in a constant stream and, before you know it, you find yourself drowning in devastation. Sleeplessness, anxiety and depression sneak into your life at the same time, and you often don’t realise it until you find yourself bawling your eyes out for no apparent reason.
Life is different now. And we may not see a positive change for a long time. So, how should we cope? What should we do to manage this time we find ourselves in?
When I asked this question on social media a few days ago, it yielded so many positive suggestions I thought I had to share some of this great advice. From holding on for just one more day, and then repeating that the next day and the next, to hanging in there for the sake of your kids or your fur children, many find strength they didn’t know they had while facing a life-changing event.
Try to manage your outlook
Growing up with strong mentors and seeing how they cope with challenges also helps to find the inner warrior that lives in us all. Having the ability to solve problems and a positive outlook that believes nothing is impossible, makes it hard for obstacles to get the better of us and encourages us to keep pushing forward, even while the world is firmly fixed to our shoulders.
For those who find themselves overloaded with responsibilities, knowing that it is possible to take a break from a few, can free up the necessary head-space we need to deal with the new challenge that has just arrived in our lives.
Delegate
Whether it is handing over scheduling duties to a partner or family member, or taking a break from volunteering, setting aside a few of the balls you are juggling will help you to breathe a little easier and unlock some much needed time to figure out this new normal.
Of course, there are also many apps on the market that claim to help manage anxiety and stress and, depending on your personality, finding the right one can make a huge difference.
Use technology wisely
One app that helped me a great deal when I was facing a life-changing challenge earlier this year was the Calm app. From helping me sleep to giving me the tools I needed to regulate my breathing and, in doing so, helped me manage my anxiety, Calm got me through a tough time in a way that few other apps had. Calm is also free to download from Google Play or the Apple App store but in-app purchases are required to unlock premium features.
Work on working out
Exercise is also a great way to manage stress and encourage those endorphins to get fired up so that life doesn’t feel like so much. DownDog guides you through a yoga flow that is best suited to your fitness level. From beginner to expert, you’ll find a class to follow that will help to stretch your body and mind. Down Dog is available to download free of charge from Google Play or the App Store, but in-app purchases are required to unlock the full suite of options.
Don't forget to play
Playing a game on your phone can be a great distraction technique to take your mind off worrying about what you’re living through. Choosing something empowering can put you back into the right frame of mind when it all seems to be too much, and give you the strategies that will help to build your resilience. SuperBetter, based on the book by Jane McGonagal, helps to frame life’s challenges as a tough, but rewarding game where you are taken through quests and build up to conquering larger goals. SuperBetter is available for free to download from Google Play or the App Store.
Remember, nothing is permanent, good or bad. Everything won’t always make sense and that’s okay. We don’t need to be okay 100% of the time. Just recognising when you’re not okay has a huge impact and knowing whether you need to reach out for some extra support from friends, family or professionals can go a long way to make sure you have someone to lean on.
You may be going through a valley right now, but keep pushing forward. The view from the next hill might be incredible.
For more information you can visit the South African Depression and Anxiety Group.
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