Managing Well-being During a Global Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented circumstances for all of us. For almost three years, the world has had to make major shifts in how we interact with one another. Some of us have been unable to spend time with friends and family, some of us lost our jobs, some of us had to miss or cancel significant life events and some of us experienced COVID-19 firsthand. And some of us have been coping with challenging feelings surrounding the impacts of COVID-19. It is likely that COVID-19 has disrupted all our lives in some way.

Human beings are creatures of habit and we tend to become comfortable and content with our routines. When these patterns and rituals are interrupted, it is expected that individuals, families and communities will face additional stressors. When facing a global pandemic, it is normal for individuals to experience anxiety, fear, anger, sadness, grief and frustration. Feelings of isolation are also common. Many of us may have even experienced feelings of divide, as we encounter rules around masks, social distancing and vaccines.

When a situation seems ambiguous, continuous and large scale, it can seem like things will never improve and solutions can seem difficult to find! In addition, a situation that is unpredictable and frequently evolving can also foster anxiety, as we are unsure what to expect. It is common to feel a lack of control over things that we once had a stronger influence on.

While we cannot magically fix a global pandemic, such as COVID-19, we can look at ways to help maintain our personal well-being.

Here are a few ideas to enhance well-being:

1. Maintain social connections with loved ones and community – look for online or phone options if you are concerned about social distancing. Zoom and Skype have become extremely popular once again!
2. Try out a socially distant visit by meeting a friend/family member through a window.
3. Take breaks from watching, reading or listening to news stories, including social media. Focus on sources that you trust and limit time spent on COVID-19 news items.
4. Find a few minutes each day to engage in deep breathing exercises to help calm your mind and release physical tension.
5. Look for opportunities to practice being more patient or kind with yourself, or to see the situation as an opportunity to learn or build strengths.
6. Spend a few minutes each day reminding yourself of things you are grateful for and or identify 1 or 2 positives from the day.
7. Exercise daily- even a gentle 30mins of walking in a lovely nature spot can help reduce stress and improve physical wellness. Find an at home work out on Youtube to enjoy!
8. Keep true to your boundaries and comfort level around what makes you feel safe and healthy!

The team at Okanagan Clinical Counselling Services is happy to assist you as you process the impacts of COVID-19.

You can book an appointment at https://okclinical.janeapp.com/ or by calling 250 718 9291.

Written by: Christina Postnikoff, MSW Candidate

To book: https://okclinical.janeapp.com/locations/kelowna/book#/staff_member/38