One thing is certain in these times: being a soldier on the frontline of a war and being a care provider during a pandemic both manifest forms of stress that bear a strong resemblance to one another. It’s more important than ever to try to remain mindful of your mental and physical well-being during these times as you may work longer hours, witness/experience more traumatic events, and live in more uncertain conditions than before.
As you pour yourself into others, try to remember to keep your own “cup refilled” by devoting time to self-care. Here are self-care suggestions to may provide inspiration during these times:
1.) Give yourself permission to take time off for self-care; time to do whatever it is that your heart desires. Put it on your calendar, set reminders, and let others know that this is YOUR time to decompress however you see fit. There is NO reason to feel guilty designating self-care time; you need to be able to sustain the care you provide during this time.
2.) First and foremost, in the heat of what feels to be a battle, it is so important to know that THIS IS TEMPORARY. Hard to see in times of struggle, we know – but true, nonetheless. While we do not know when successful treatments will be found, a vaccination invented, when things return to “normal” (or what the new normal even looks like), on thing is for sure – we will not live in this current state forever. Breathe and hang tight.
3.) If you are comfortable with it, accept help from those who offer it to you. For many who aren’t on the front line, it’s a love offering in a time where they too, feel out of control. Let someone deliver your dinner, mow your yard or pick up your groceries for you. You are important in this time and deserving of attention and it gives you more time to take care of yourself.
4.) Try not to isolate yourself; while you may feel alone, there are most likely others experiencing similar emotions you can talk to. Find a person (even if it’s just a single person), to talk to, cry or laugh with. However, you need to unload the baggage that has accrued at work – make sure you find an outlet to help you unpack it and diffuse some of the heightened emotion these times manifest.
5.) Look for the joys in every day. That’s right, joys are still happening in the world; they just might be a little harder to see through the lens of COVID-19. Be still and present; reconnect with your environment, nature, and the people around you. You will find beauty. Even if you find a single joy per day, journal each and string them together to form a bridge of hope that will help you get to the other side of this pandemic.
We will get through this together – and the CreateAbility Team is here to help you in any way that we can. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here and waiting to support you!
Similar Reads: 4 Assistive Technology and Remote Monitoring Solutions for COVID-19 Transmission Reduction
