And suddenly everything is different: the corona crisis has changed our lives – how can we deal with it? Stefanie Selke wonders. She works as a coach in Berlin and supports managers and employees in difficult situations. Now she is in such a situation herself and tries out her own strategies. Stefanie blogs at sunny-me.de about her handling of the crisis – we asked her for her best tips.
Hello dear Stefanie, how are you doing right now?
Things are getting better now. I've been isolated in Tenerife for ten days. At the beginning of the month, more and more bookings from my customers were canceled, so I thought that I would just start on Easter vacation earlier – and a curfew was issued a day later. Now I can only go outside for shopping and going for a walk.
What is the most difficult thing for those affected in this situation?
I think we're all being thrown back on ourselves. This is a situation that we are faced with without being asked and it is now difficult to endure. For example, at the beginning I was terrified of loneliness and tried to fight it with the help of social media and video calls. In the meantime I have taught my mother video telephony and learned that I am very used to it.
Many people are currently having great difficulties with the uncertainty of the current situation. Did you feel the same way?
Yes, that was really hard. Nobody knows what to do next. The only thing that helps is to recognize the situation and also to acknowledge it: Yes, this uncertainty burdens me. Then I know exactly what concerns me. And the next step is to actively look for alternatives. For example with sports: keep your body busy, get out the yoga mat or do some jumping jacks in the living room. Then you are actively doing something and are not the victim of your brooding. And you can also actively control and program your thoughts.
How can this be done?
For example, I got used to writing a positive diary every day and writing down all the good things I encounter.
That can't be much in isolation, can it?
Oh but. It can be something very simple, which we only have to discover and focus on. For example, I was happy about the chirping birds, the calm that I now have to do and the time that I can now use to try out new recipes or read books.
Sounds like you just have to look at your situation from a different angle …?
Yes exactly. I now focus on my cup of espresso a day, which is now a real highlight that I am looking forward to and that I celebrate. Whatever stresses and stresses me can also make me cool in another context, it depends on the perspective from which I look at it.
What did you learn about yourself in the ten days of isolation that surprised you?
I got to know my own needs much better. This situation forces me to deal with myself and today I know much better how important personal relationships are to me, for example. And so I can take countermeasures with video calls, for example, and better meet my personal needs. I also realize that I can be effective by helping people in this situation with the tips on the blog. We all need this self-efficacy to stay satisfied and motivated!