Feeling unsettled about the new virus? Here are 5 Tips that may help

I think it is fair to say that most of us are feeling a bit unsettled about the uncertainties brought up by the COVID-19, health concerns, the impact on the economy, the work from home arrangements and how everything is just very different than our typical routine.

With all these changes, I wonder what are you doing to stay physically & mentally healthy during these times? 

Here are my Top 5 Tips that I hope can help you, just as they are helping me!

1. Make the most of it: Whereas it is inconvenient to be home bound, to wear a mask when going out and to have your typical daily routine interrupted, it is also an opportunity to appreciate what we have and to make the best out of it. I’ve been feeling really grateful for my home, the medical care we have in Hong Kong and the family bonding time that this virus scare is giving my family. Don’t get me wrong, having a husband and two teenagers home constantly drives me crazy at times! On the positive side, having everyone home has created a lot of great moments too. We are having conversations on a range of subjects — from world issues to their favourite youtube channel — along with watching a lot of movies together and enjoying each other’s company. How many people wish they could work from home more often?! Well, here we are. Let’s make the most of it. Create more conversations, share, watch movies, start a home bookclub, cook together, share the chores and make every day a happy one. It is up to each of us to do so.
2. Stay positive: If you have met me in person you know I am a generally happy and bubbly person. With so much uncertainty in the air, however, it is not always easy to maintain high spirits and keep that “Happy Mind” I always talk about. In the last few months I discovered the mindfulness meditation app Calm, the #1 App for Meditation and Sleep. I love it and I have been doing it daily, every morning! Calm helps me stay positive, grateful and have more perspective. I share it with my coaching clients, kids and friends. I can’t recommend this enough!
3. Use the time to learn something new: Working from home or having a flexible work arrangement should give everyone a bit more time as many of us are not commuting to and from work. So, how are you using this time? Are you being more efficient with work? Less efficient? I encourage you to have a general work schedule from home, but also enjoy your time with new things. How about a new book? A new Podcast? A new online course from Udemy? Enjoy the day! Take the opportunity to use your time to learn and enjoy the moment, rather than get obsessed with scary and sad news going around. I recently started listening to a great Podcast called The Happiness Lab by Yale Professor Dr. Laurie Santos, What a fun, insightful and easy listen! I have also been recommending this to my coaching clients who seem just as hooked as I am.
4. Exercise more: Besides washing hands well, taking vitamin C and D, zinc and all the other things you’ve read that can help your immune system stay healthy and strong, how is your exercise routine? As you know, exercise is a key element for physical and mental wellbeing. We all know that, but many of us don’t do it as regularly as we should. Well, here’s our chance to go for a walk or a run, go to the beach, do a “7 minutes workout” or get to your gym or yoga if you are not afraid of the crowd (in fact, there are not many people going out. So, you may have almost like a private class). I go to the Yoga Room in Hong Kong and love the teachers, the space and the down to earth vibe.
5. Start Journaling: When I speak with friends and clients about journaling, a lot of people like the idea, but very few actually do it. Many of us have read articles like this one on the New York Times that talk about the benefits of journaling and writing 3 to 5 things we are grateful for each day. These exercises help reinforce the positive, keep things in perspective, as well as help us better understand our emotions. Being a certified trainer and coach in Emotional Intelligence and a meditation practitioner for years, I have long known about these practices and benefits. I only just started about four months ago, however, and I can tell you these articles are really on to something! I wish I had started earlier.     

I meant to write some very quick tips but got a bit carried away, in a good way! If you read this far, I hope the tips are useful to you. I would also love to hear… what are you doing to stay physically and mentally healthy during these challenging times?

Much Love and keep a Happy Mind!

M?nica Z. Hall