How are you coping with all the COVID19 lifestyle and work changes?

Are you settling into your new routine? Are you feeling less stressed? More tired or more energetic? More or less creative?

I read an article recently written by a journalist who has worked and lived in war zones, and through violent conflict, poverty and disasters in many part of the world. She says that anytime we’re faced with a crisis where our lives are drastically affected (like now), there are three stages we all move through. I found the advice helpful so wanted to share the main points with you.

Rather than productivity, here’s what she said you need to focus on first:

Stage 1: Security

The first few days and weeks of a crisis, it’s most important to focus on your security; things like food, family, friends and maybe fitness if it helps you ease your stress.

It’s normal to feel bad or feel a loss so make ample room for mental adjustment.

This is NOT a time to be productive so don’t compare yourself to people who are talking about all they’re accomplishing. First, they may be in denial. Second, they’re on their own journey. You’re on yours.

What’s important at this stage is to devise a team. Talk about what you need – food, essentials – and figure out who you know that needs help and how you can help them while keeping up with guidelines and restrictions.

Most of us are likely passed this stage at this point, but if you’re not – particularly if you were in “high gear” mode helping others feel safe without taking yourself into consideration – what can you do now to feel secure and comforted?

Stage 2: Mental Shift

Once you feel secure and have your team in place, you’ll begin to feel more balanced. You’ll be getting used to the new protocols and are settling into new routines.

With this balance, you’ll begin to crave more challenges again. Allow this stage to emerge at it’s own time.

Do not rush or pre-judge your mental shift, or compare where you are to others.

Personal note: I felt like I teetered between Stage 1 and Stage 2 for a while – sometimes daily, sometimes hourly. How about you? Be patient and listen to your heart and body. 

Stage 3: Embrace a new normal

On the other side of the mental shift awaits creativity. Do easy tasks first and work up to harder tasks.

As humans, we are naturally adaptable. Since everything has changed anyway, your mind is naturally more open to possibilities. At this stage, you’ll be more comfortable changing what had been in place prior to the crisis.

New ideas will begin to emerge that would not have occurred to you before (pre-crisis or up until now within the crisis).

Create new schedules to support yourself. Focus on serenity, productivity and wellness.

This is a marathon. The author stressed to emotionally prepare for the crisis to last 12-18 months and if it’s less, you can be pleasantly surprised.

The world has already changed and most of us are in denial about that, but the sooner we accept that there are things we may need to change, the sooner we can begin to imagine ourselves in a different reality. One you can have control creating.

Which stage are you currently at?

Are you fully in one stage? Do you feel yourself stepping into the next stage (maybe you’ve got one foot on either side)?

Remember, it’s your journey. There are no “shoulds”. Allow yourself to move through the process at your own pace.

Try this: 

Often a change – any change, especially if it was not wanted or is unexpected – can shift you into panic, confusion, overwhelm, or stop you in your tracks. But if you can look back on a time when you’ve navigated change before, you will ease your fear and build your confidence and sense of resilience.

Fear’s job is to keep you safe; to raise the alarms.

Meet your fear with kindness and love by showing it that you are capable and resourceful.

Take a minute and think about a time when you were faced with a different crisis than the one you’re facing now – even a small crisis.

Write down how you handled it…

What did you do? Did you ask for help? From whom? How did you get through it?

What did you learn about yourself from that crisis?
How did you grow because of having gone through the crisis?

Knowing that you’ve handled a crisis before will help you to know that you can handle this one too. Plus this exercise will give you ideas for how you can better support yourself right now.

Be kind to yourself at this time.
Listen to your body. Get enough rest. Eat well. Love more deeply.

And when you’re ready…

Give yourself time and permission to start imagining what you want your new normal to be.

Open your mind to new possibilities. Then decide which ones you want to pursue and start deliberately creating your new and better normal.

You’ve got this. ❤️

Know that I’m here to support you as you shape this next chapter. Let’s chat.