The corona virus or our decision to slow its spread through social distancing and thus save people we love puts us in the extraordinary situation of not being constantly on the move and able to do something. Why do we not use this opportunity for self-discovery and reflection, it is often said now. A great idea that we absolutely support – however it may not be so easy for some to find their middle while they are worried about their parents, constantly reading how many hundreds of people are in the "war" against the virus again today have lost their lives and will find empty streets when they go out the door.
In other words, even though we all know that if we go crazy now, nobody can be helped, it can be difficult to keep calm. The following measures can help here.
4 tips on how to keep calm now
1. Channel information flood
We all now know what we have to do and how we can help – and that's the main thing right now. For most people (except e.g. politicians, journalists, etc.), it is sufficient to update and inform themselves once or twice a day. On the other hand, dealing with the virus 24/7 usually makes little sense (if you are not currently working on a vaccine against it). In our special "Together against Corona" you will find answers to the most important questions as well as current news.
2. Focus on what you can control
So far, we who are not in the health care system can do nothing to counter the coronavirus but cut it off through social distancing, which in turn means a drastic restriction of our freedom. In some, this situation creates a feeling of fainting and loss of control, which can sometimes be associated with restlessness and panic. On the other hand, it helps to concentrate more on what is in our hands – e.g. B. How we eat, what we spend our time in, what condition our apartment is in. Challenges, setting goals and giving the day structure through concrete plans and to-do lists, if you suffer from the feeling of extreme helplessness, are good measures to calm down (you can find inspiration for your daily schedule in our article "Ideas against Boredom").
3. Meditate, take a deep breath and sleep
Body and mind are one – that's why breathing exercises against stress sometimes work wonders. In sleep and also when meditating, we can often process the experiences of these days even better than by thinking. As such, a healthy sleep routine and physical shutdown are great great sedatives.
4. Let go – the claim to work
Usually we always aim to function, develop and move forward. But a lot is currently on hold due to the corona virus. Our well-oiled system, in which we are all little cogs, is stalling for a few moments – and maybe some of us might do well not to try to keep turning as usual. For some people, now is simply not the time to look for challenges and goals, but to let yourself go and feel yourself inside. Not to run to improve your stamina, but because you have a need for exercise. Not playing the piano to learn a new piece, but because it helps you. Soon we will all have to turn faster anyway and work as before. And until that happens, we don't miss anything or break anything when we shift down a gear – on the contrary.