5 S’s of Coping
Oftentimes I take a deep breath and realize that “we are STILL going through it in 2021”. We have continued to endure an international virus, numerous losses, economic and social injustices, along with the trauma of radically shifting our lives from what we once knew. While so many people are displaying their resilience by emerging in 2021 with new businesses or personal growth, did you know that many are still not ok? And that it’s ok not to be ok?!
First, know it is normal to feel stressed! Fear, worry, and uncertainty about your own health status, as well as that of your loved ones, is common. Stress can impact your thinking habits, body, emotions, and your behavior! Maybe your thinking habits or cognitive functioning is impacted in the following ways: being easily distracted, trouble with concentration, trouble remembering. Or you notice that your body has had an increase or decrease of energy, muscle tension, feelings of restlessness, sweating, being easily startled, having headaches, changes in appetite, or even difficulty sleeping. Sometimes, our emotions feel labile and unstable, leading us to have trouble relaxing, feeling irritable, feeling down, or feeling anxious. Stress can even impact our relationships: we may notice that we want to be alone more often, trouble completing work tasks, or we even blame others or get into arguments more frequently
All of the impacts mentioned and more can be managed using the following “5 S’s of Coping”: Stay connected, manage Stress, Self-care, get Sleep, feed your Spirit.
Stay Connected: Be creative about how to maintain connections with others during this time. Talking to those you trust is a helpful way to reduce feelings of isolation, anxiety, fear, boredom or vulnerability during social distancing, quarantine, or other safety measures.
Manage Stress: Remember to relax your body and mind: practice slow, steady breathing and muscle relaxation, as well as any other soothing actions (meditation, yoga, exercise, walking, music, reading for pleasure). It's also important to maintain a sense of hope; consider keeping a journal where you write down things you are grateful for or that are going well. Don’t forget to engage in and savor pleasant activities (search online for lists of pleasant activities within your budget that can be done at home).
Self-Care: Eat healthy foods (avoid high sugar foods, alcohol, and too much caffeine) and engage in physical activity daily. Studies show that when you maintain daily routines and your schedule as much as is possible despite disruptions, this also decreases stress.
Get Sleep: During times of stress it is important to ensure we are getting enough sleep to help us regulate our emotions and response to stress. Turn off the lights, TV, and put away your phone when trying to sleep at least 1 hour before bedtime.
Feed Your Spirit: Practice renewing your mind daily through prayer, meditation, reading, and other spiritual practices. These are known to be grounding and helpful when hope and positive outlooks are in deficit.