MDF Magazine Issue 62 7 August 2020 (7)

Healthy
7 Low Moments we’ll Experience
during COVID-19
(& How to Deal with Them)
By Tara Strickland
Originally published online by Elephant Journal,
8 May 2020
For most of us, when we rang in the New Year, COVID-19
wasn’t even a thought in our mind. Fast-forward a mere five
months later and it’s now a part of our daily lives. It’s almost
impossible to escape this shift in our reality.
And even though everyone’s being affected differently, I believe
we’ll all share a few of the same moments before the
pandemic comes to an end:
1. The moment we realize just how crazy this is.
Each of us has different levels of exposure to COVID-19, but
we’re all affected. I mean, just the word pandemic is enough
to spark the flame of anxiety in us. The moment comes
amidst us dealing with the illness of ourselves, in our family,
having hours cut at work, or losing a job altogether. Maybe,
it’s the weird feeling that pops up when we see people walking
around with masks and gloves on. Regardless of what
the experience is, we can all relate to the sense of going from
everyday life straight into level five of “Jumanji.”
It doesn’t matter who it is. It can be a friend, brother, or even
grandma. Make sure to call, text, video chat, or walk to the
next room over to connect with someone. COVID-19 affects
everyone in some way. Talking to a loved one helps us
realize we’re not losing it, and we’re also not alone during
this crazy time.
2. The “I don’t care” moment.
This happens sometime after we’ve adjusted (as much as
possible) to this new reality. We may find we have some
energy but don’t know what to do with it. Maybe, we’re
bored or feel like nothing we’re doing matters.
Tip: Exercise.
Exercise is a natural way to improve mood. Now hold
up. We don’t have to commit to an hour-long full-body
workout to benefit from exercise. Something as simple
as going for a walk, 10 minutes of yoga, or 20 minutes of
dancing still counts as exercise. It’s not about getting a
summer body or disciplining ourselves. Unless, of course,
that’s our goal (then, by all means, do the damn thing). The
point is to do something good for our body that helps to ease
the blah
feeling.
3. The “I can’t even” moment.
The extra stress from COVID-19 just adds to the list of things
we have to manage: our jobs, bills, family, and keeping our
household in order. Sometimes we need a small break from it
all to get ourselves together.
Tip: Meditate.
We don’t have to practice what most people consider to be
traditional meditation ‒ sitting cross-legged, and speaking
mantras. If we do have guru-level discipline, then definitely
go for it. But most of us will benefit from something like
a guided meditation on YouTube. Or even doing something
simple with complete focus may be of benefit.
Think of a ritual for making a cup of tea or doing breathwork.
The point of this is to get our minds to slow down. Focus on
the present instead of worrying about what to do next.
4. The “I have all the feelings, what do I do with them”
moment.
We are human beings. We have emotions. It’s normal.
Dealing with stress during a change can trigger a higher level
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