Staying Positive During COVID-19

Sheltering in place at home, one cannot ignore all of the tragedy associated with the first Pandemic in the digital age. We are constantly bombarded with news of sickness, death, job loss, businesses closing, and on and on. For some of us, it is a challenge simply to find positivity on any given day.

1. Practice Gratefulness

Keep a gratefulness journal. Notice both significant and small items for which you are thankful. Important things can include your home and shelter, your health, your family, your friends, your ability to put food on your table, and other essentials. Small things are more momentary pleasures, like a hot cup of coffee, a calming bath, a good book, or a funny meme. Be sure to include as much detail into your gratefulness practice as possible.

2. Start Your Day with a Positive Routine

Morning routines are important to begin with, but even more so during times of crisis. Don’t reach for your phone to check the news as soon as you wake up or while you’re still in bed. Take a few minutes to find yourself – and smile. You’d be surprised at how incredibly powerful a morning smile can be in helping you start your day on a positive note.

3. Slow Down

Don’t rush into things, including any conclusions about information you’re getting from the news or things you’re hearing from family and friends. There is no need to hurry right now. One of the benefits of social isolation is your ability to pace yourself and let go of some usual anxieties.

4. Relax Your Body

Check-in on your muscles regularly and if you’re tensing up your jaw, or your shoulders, or if you’re frowning, breathe and relax. Get into the habit of doing quick body scans throughout the day. From your scalp to your toes, be aware of your body, your muscles, and your breathing.

5. Exercise

This should be part of your daily routine already, but now even more so. If you’re an active individual, odds are you’ve made necessary adjustments to keep exercising at home instead of at your usual gym which is likely on lockdown right now. If you’re not regularly active, make exercising a priority and incorporate it into your day. Try yoga, or resistance training, or even a brisk walk. Aside from its physical benefits, exercising releases endorphins in your body which triggers feelings of positivity, so be sure to include an exercise routine into your day, even if it’s only a short one.

6. Create and Nurture Your Digital Community

Just because we’re all practicing social distancing, it doesn’t mean we can’t stay in touch with our family and friends. Thanks to all the communication technology most of us in the industrialized world have access to, doing video calls, and jumping into group chats, and even attending virtual parties and concerts, are valuable options for which we should be grateful. Check-in with your friends and reconnect with those you may not have heard from for a while. Keep in mind that your friends and family are likely suffering from the same types of anxiety and stress that you are experiencing right now, so make a mental effort to contribute positively to the conversation.

7. Incorporate Humor and Laughter into your day

This is one of the most important steps you should take in improving your positivity and benefiting from a more optimistic disposition. Numerous studies have confirmed short-term and long-term benefits of laughter on the human body and mind. Everything from stimulating your organs to lowering your stress levels, improving your blood circulation, strengthening your immune system, and even relieving physical pain – laughter is the best medicine.

8. Walk Away or Distance Yourself from Distressful Conversations and Situations

In today’s highly stressful pandemic environment, it is easy to get pulled into negative interactions and exchanges that can leave us feeling distressed, frightened, insecure and pessimistic. Recognizing these encounters early on and removing ourselves from these situations and interactions can help us manage our stress and contribute to our positivity. This also includes obsessing over constant news coverage, and updates about the spread of the virus. Staying informed and aware of what is happening locally and globally are important, and we should all make sure we are as educated and prepared as possible. But creating a healthy balance between news consumption and our daily routines is also crucial in helping us maintain a sense of normalcy and control over our mental health.

9. Have Faith

Not necessarily having religious faith, although if you are a religious person and can draw from your belief systems, you most definitely should! But how about having faith in humanity; in science; in technology; in our health care heroes; in collaboration; in the good in people; in our resilience; in our perseverance; in our ability to overcome even the most outrageous of obstacles to grow and evolve; in our future; in our constant and mutual commitment to improve ourselves and our communities; in our kindness; in our empathy; in our desire to provide a good life for ourselves and our loved ones; in never giving up until we find the right, permanent solution to bring this virus to heel. In life after COVID-19 and everything we will have learned after all of this is done. Believe in yourself and your endless capacity to love.

Stay positive folks

Family law litigation can be emotionally difficult and complex. Decisions made about each step of the litigation can affect you for many years. At Bains Law Firm, we have decades of experience helping our clients through the difficulty of family law matters of all types and can help you through the process. Contact us today at (253) 838 –3377 or email at office@bainslawfirm.com, to talk about your case.

Disclaimer: All materials provided on this website have been prepared by Bains Law Firm for general information purposes only and no representation is made as to their completeness or accuracy. Information on this website is not intended as legal advice, and may not be relied upon as such. Only an attorney who can review the unique facts of each case and apply them to the statutes, case law and court rules can provide legal advice. Nothing in this website shall be construed to create an attorney-client relationship.