Saturday, September 12, 2020

Covid-19 Causing Stress? Learn how to Cope with Change and Find Meaning During This Time


People around the world are finding it stressful to adjust to all the changes they have gone through over the past six months. One day they were living a normal life, going to work, sending their children to school, getting their hair cut, and going out to dinner, and the next day they were working from home, teaching their kids online, cutting their own hair, and cooking their own meals. It's enough to make anyone feel crazy and stressed out.

Fortunately, there are actions you can take which may not eliminate the stress, but will help you handle it a little better.  You do not have to let the stress overwhelm you. You may find it beneficial to discuss your anxiety and stress with a professional.  You might also want to use a workbook such as "Families and Change: Coping with Stressful Events and Transitions,", (Ad) which is designed to help you and your family recognize and deal with the issues you are all experiencing.  It will be a helpful way to open up communication.

You will also find it helpful to read the tips in this week's guest post by Jennifer Scott, a life coach who has a blog at SpiritFinder.org.  Her suggestions may help guide you and your family in reducing the stress and anxiety which can be caused by sudden, unexpected life changes.  If you implement these ideas, you will begin to focus less on the negatives and more on the positive benefits you are experiencing during this unsettled time. I know that I have personally followed some of Jennifer's suggestions and found them quite helpful in staying positive and productive.  I am volunteering for several organizations online.  I have been crocheting more lately, an activity which I had put on the back burner several years ago, and some of the items I have made are being raffled off by a charity raising money to help college students.  I am staying in touch with friends and loved ones on Zoom and social media, which has been good for my mental health.  I have increased my exercise regimen.  You, too, can find a way to make the most of this period of time.  When you look back, will you remember this year as a time of anxiety and loneliness, or one that was productive and creative?  Read Jennifer's tips below:

Positive Ways to Cope with Change and Find Meaning During the Pandemic

by Jennifer Scott

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone in one way or another. Dealing with swift and unprecedented changes is never easy and often leads to anxiety, depression, and a feeling of helplessness. In times of uncertainty, it is more important than ever to find ways to stay positive. Below, you will find ideas, not just for coping, but for thriving during the pandemic.

Take Care of Priorities

Even though many parts of the world are in the process of reopening, it will probably be a long time before life returns to a semblance of normal. Many activities can be put on hold until a later time, but that does not apply to everything. Having a number of pressing matters in your life is a major source of stress, especially if you feel unable to check things off your to-do list the way you normally would.

For example, experiences such as moving, getting medical attention, and even cutting your hair cannot always wait. Luckily, there are alternative ways to accomplish these things. For example, if you are in the market for a new house, you can still tour homes virtually thanks to services such as 3D walk throughs and video chat tours. Similarly, many clinics and hospitals have begun offering tele-health services to provide virtual checkups. You can also seek out mental health help virtually.

Get Involved

Even with some aspects of life returning to normal, you are probably still spending more time than usual at home. Being isolated at home can quickly take a toll on your mental health. One of the best ways to feel more connected is to get involved with a cause you care about. For example, you can raise awareness about issues which matter to you by sharing facts online, doing a Facebook fundraiser, or by finding ways to make important causes more visible.

In addition, you can also make a difference by volunteering virtually. There will always be a need for volunteers, and there are countless opportunities for using your talents or simply your time for the greater good.

Grow Your Career

Volunteering and getting involved with activism will make you feel more connected and enable you to make a difference, but the pandemic may also have affected your income. If you have lost your job or find yourself wanting to switch careers, there are still many opportunities to do so.

Countless companies are hiring more employees to meet the new demands brought on by the pandemic. However, you do not need to work for someone else if you do not want to. Becoming a freelancer is a great option which provides flexibility and the ability to work from home. Accounting, writing, editing, customer service, and administrative work are just a few of the occupations you can do on a freelance basis. Posting your skills on a freelance job board is the easiest way to get started.

Try a New Hobby 

The pandemic has upended many people’s social lives and careers, but it has also left many of us with more time on our hands than usual. Having extra free time might sound like a dream come true, but as Psych Central explains, it can also increase feelings of anxiety. One of the best ways to give your days more structure is to try your hand at a new hobby.

Gardening, for example, is a great way to get outside, save money and reduce trips to the grocery store, while also improving your diet. You do not have to have a yard to get started. Many people grow successful gardens in containers or even on their windowsills. Trying a new creative endeavor such as knitting, painting, sewing, or sculpting clay can also make your time more interesting and productive. As an added benefit, CreativeLive points out that creative hobbies can also be turned into a fun side gig, if you sell your creations online. YouTube has numerous videos to help you learn new skills.

Believe it or not, you can turn exercise into your new hobby. Thankfully, you can find an abundance of free online exercises classes and workout tutorials in this helpful article from Baby Boomer Retirement!

Although the pandemic has been going on for months, it will still be a long time until life can get back on track. Learning how to cope with the new normal will take time, but setting new career goals, trying out new hobbies, and getting used to a new way of doing things will help you make it through.

If you are interested in learning more about common medical issues as you age, Social Security, Medicare, where to retire, financial planning, travel and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

Remember, if you want more ways to deal with Covid-19 stress, you might want to use a workbook such as "Families and Change: Coping with Stressful Events and Transitions,", (Ad) which is designed to help you and your family recognize and deal with the issues you are all experiencing.

 
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You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com


Photo credits:  Pexels

2 comments:

  1. Do you have any other blogs on retirement

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your inquiry. No, this is the only retirement blog I have. It contains over 600 posts, with new ones added every week. I think it covers most of the topics people need to know when they plan their retirement.

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