Summary

The article discusses personal strategies for managing stress during the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of adapting to new circumstances and finding balance amidst the blurred lines of work and home life.

Abstract

The pandemic has drastically altered daily life, turning once normal routines into a distant memory and intensifying the challenge of maintaining a work-life balance. With the overlap of personal and professional spaces, stress has become a more prominent issue. The author shares their approach to stress management, which includes limiting news consumption to avoid health-related anxiety, practicing gratitude, focusing on breathing exercises to alleviate panic, and acknowledging the need for self-compassion during these trying times. By not fixating on the possibility of contracting the virus, adhering to safety protocols, and appreciating the ability to stay indoors with family, the author finds a sense of control and positivity. The article underscores the significance of accepting imperfection and the necessity of taking breaks to cope with the increased stress and close quarters of lockdown life.

Opinions

The author believes that overthinking exacerbates stress and suggests focusing on what can be controlled, such as personal hygiene and safety measures.
Expressing gratitude is seen as a powerful tool for maintaining a positive outlook despite the limitations imposed by the pandemic.
The author emphasizes the importance of breathing exercises as a practical method for managing panic and regaining a sense of calm.
There is an acknowledgment that the perception of being a "supermom" was partly due to the structure

Stress management during the pandemic

Stress Management

Times have changed. Literally, figuratively — take your pick.

What was once normal has become a story of once upon a time.

What was once boring and mundane has become longed for and looked back fondly today.

Yes, times have changed.

If the work-life balance was a challenge before, now with work and life happening at the same space for most of us, balancing has become a cause of stress.

Oh, yes — times have changed.

Stress management is one thing that humans need to get efficient at to balance anything, even to survive in this time of the pandemic.

But the thought of managing work, life, stress is causing me another dose of stress.

There is no boundary — no matter how hard I try. Kids, husband, my own thoughts — they are loitering my space one at a time, sometimes all at the same time. It’s no good.

Then how do I manage my stress during this stressful time?

It’s simple, actually.

Stop overthinking. Okay, not that simple.

I haven’t stopped watching the news. Because I would like to be up-to-date with what’s happening around me, especially about something like an invisible virus that’s hellbent on leaving a mark on all things human.

Instead, I stopped thinking that I would catch the virus. I stay at home and go out only when it is absolutely necessary. I wash my hands after coming back home. I wash my hands after touching anything that has been outside for even a second. Sanitizing has become a thing of these changing times.

I count my blessings, every day. As difficult it is to stay inside the house all the time, I am grateful that I can stay inside along with my family.

Of course, there are many people out there who don’t have this flexibility. And many more are forced to stay inside leading to a low-income generation. So we do what we can for others and we count our blessings to stay positive.

Deep breathe in. When the panic seeps in I pause and focus on my breathing.

It helps. A lot.

All that unsettling thoughts and feelings go away when my focus is on my breathing. Sometimes, I even feel motivated to do something productive after these breathing sessions.

Lastly, I decided to give myself a break.

Clearly, I haven’t acquired any superpowers. Somewhere along the way, I did think that I was a supermom. But now with everyone cooped up at home, I realize that my supermom power was an illusion brought about by the existence of schools, daycares, and offices. My beloved family appeared to be beloved to me only because of the time and space they were away from me every day.

So now, when I snap at my kids frequently for interrupting me, I give myself a break.

It’s not perfect. Things are not meant to be perfect. At least not when the virus is still at large.

I still love my family. Oh yes, I do. But I have to give myself a break if I fail at expressing that.

It’s okay. We are dealing with stress in our own ways. As long as we are not killing each other and still care about one another at the end of the day — we are balancing work, life, and managing stress efficiently.