Managing Uncertainty during these times

Uncertainty During The Time of Covid-19 & 

How To Overcome It

 

The times are unprecedented; no one could have ever foreseen a catastrophe such as this pandemic. It is just impossible to fathom that something so tiny, turned out to be so powerful that it was able to bring the entire world to a grinding halt. The best part is that this virus has shown no bias; it did not discriminate by colour, race, gender or even nationality. The Covid-19 virus has just proven to be one of its kind! 

 

The effects of this pandemic have been numerous, to say the least – anxiety, uncertainty, depression, job losses, financial instability, travel restrictions, etc., are just some of the many ‘side-effects’. Under such circumstances, where things are not under your control, it is easy to become overwhelmed by fear and negative emotions. You may think that bottling up your emotions, putting on a brave face, and forcing yourself to be positive, is the best outcome. But denying or suppressing your emotions will only increase your stress and anxiety and make you more vulnerable to depression or burnout.

 

When there is nothing that can be done about a situation, you can still actively face your emotions and accept them – even the most negative and fearful ones. Allowing yourself to experience uncertainty in this way, can help minimise your stress and come to a better understanding and acceptance of the circumstances. 

 

This is however easier said than done. But, there are certain pointers that you can follow, in order to keep negativity and negative emotions at bay. Positivity is not easily acquired; it is therefore important to tame your mind and remain positive in thoughts and actions.

 

i)          Indulge yourself in physical activity on a daily basis, for at least 20-30 minutes. This could include walking, jogging, cycling, yoga, etc. Keeping yourself physically active, releases endorphins, the hormone that increases positive feelings.

 

ii)        Involve yourself in learning something new. This could be either learning a new skill or acquiring knowledge on a new subject such as – cooking, learning music, learning to play a new instrument, learning a new language, learn chess, etc. We have more time on our hands now than we did before and this is the perfect time to follow your passion, something that you have been putting off for a long time.

 

iii)      Negativity sells faster; the news media is filled with news and negative images that can be quite depressing. It is important to stay abreast of current affairs, but it is not necessary to subject yourself to all the negative and disheartening images that flash across the news. Therefore, limit your exposure to the news, rather, choose to listen to the news instead of watching it. 

 

iv)      It is natural to be concerned about the rising number of Covid cases across the world. But your worrying is not going to help the situation. This is something that no one has control over. Instead of pondering over a situation that you have no control over, work towards increasing your circle of influence, where you focus on things that are actually under your control.

 

v)        Having to stay cooped up inside of our homes and with travel restrictions being imposed; it can get quite frustrating to have your freedom taken away. Understand that these restrictions are necessary but are not permanent. Use this time inside instead, to engage in self-care. Apart from some regular exercise, focus on your diet. There is a lot that you can choose to eat to stay healthy and increase your immunity. Meditation can be a great way for mind-body rejuvenation. It is also extremely important to continue to follow a proper sleep schedule and ensure 6-8hrs of sleep every night.

 

vi)      Let the physical isolation not dominate your emotions. Make a list of things around you that you are thankful for. Writing can be an incredible form of catharsis. You could start maintaining a diary, where you log in your emotions on a daily basis or just put down your thoughts on paper whenever things feel overwhelming. Taking to painting can also have a similar effect and help in the release of bottled emotions. If it is not physically possible to meet with your near and dear ones, plan and get together over video calls!

 

vii)    You know yourself better than anyone else; so take your own advice. Keep an open mind-set instead of being closed. Stay with positive people in your circle. Happiness is a choice, so choose it. Seek support from those you trust and share the positivity. 

 

viii)  ‘Tough situations do not last, but tough people do’. Your life depends on the quality of your thoughts. Nothing is permanent; the situation that prevails today will certainly change tomorrow. So it is extremely important to keep a positive outlook.