8 Ways to Practice Self-Care during the Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic

As the situation develops, it’s important to keep up to date with the latest accurate information. Seek out legitimate sources, such as the World Health Organization and trusted news sources, and avoid fear-driven misinformation. This doesn’t help anyone.

Know when enough is enough, and when to pull away. Limit your exposure to media to reduce overwhelm and limit yourself to how much time you are willing to spend taking in the surge of headlines.

When you notice yourself feeling too overwhelmed, take a brain break and do something that feels restorative and nourishing. Watch some vids of puppies, babies, sunrises, or whatever else makes you smile. Read. Craft. Sew. Focus on something that makes you feel happy. Because here’s the thing: that’s part of our world too, so let’s not lose sight of what makes it so worthwhile.

Reach out (from a safe distance) to loved ones for emotional support. Call or text to check in. Talk. Smile. Laugh. Share your worries and your fears, as well as what you’ve seen working. Be courteous. This goes a long way in times of stress. It may sound counter-intuitive, but isolation and focusing on yourself only is the enemy of self-care.

RELATED: 10 signs you’re emotionally intelligent (and 5 signs you’re not).

Meditate. Pray. Focus on deep, slow breathing. Try guided imagery, listening to calming nature sounds, laughter or singing. These things naturally lift our spirits.

Remember that in every situation, there is an element of control, even if this means only being able to control your response to the situation. Take care of your own hygiene, following best practices for avoiding transmission. Hydrate, eat healthy foods to boost your immune system, sleep. Contact your workplace to clarify any policies and supports, if needed, and adjust your own finances and spending to accommodate the shift in the global economic situation.

Acknowledge the anxiety, fear, and all the unsettling feelings you’re experiencing. That’s a natural reaction to situations such as this, and allow yourself to grapple with these feelings. It means you are sensitive to what’s happening around you and this is a good thing, because it makes you pay attention, and it makes you agile and adaptive - all strengths in times of uncertainty.

Amidst all this, the mass scale at which coordination and collaboration is happening is, in fact, encouraging. People are pulling together to resolve this global problem, and perhaps this pandemic will inadvertently help pave the way towards a better, stronger future together.