With COVID-19 continuing to wreak havoc, it’s difficult to find something to stay positive about. Confirmed cases of the virus are rising unabated, along with it the number of affected countries, fatalities, and the plummeting global economy. Nevertheless, staying positive throughout these challenging times is a must not only for your family’s morale but also for their physical and mental health. Here are seven ways on how to help your family stay positive during COVID-19:
Have a Routine
Having a daily routine that is physically, mentally, and spiritually enriching can help you and your family avoid anxiety, depression, and other negative energies during these stressful times. Although your days don’t have to be planned out to a tee, try to have a routine going for meals, exercise, and chores. Getting into a rhythm can reduce stress and/or boredom, especially for kids. Having a routine is also ideal now that most adults are working from home. Time and task management can be tricky without a mental plan on what task to do next and what to prioritize your time on.
Create a Positive Environment
Excessive noise, back and forth bickering, and junk foods can all culminate into a hostile lockdown situation inside your home. Talk to your children about the Coronavirus and reinforce a positive environment to keep your family’s spirits up.
Emphasize positive elements and news in your household rather than focusing on the grim details of the ongoing pandemic. Play board games, watch family movies, read fictional stories, and do activities that you and your family enjoy doing.
Adopt a Homeless Animal
Millions of dogs and cats are euthanized at shelters each year due to lack of space. Fostering a dog/cat while you’re stuck indoors can help your family, especially your kids, stay positive. If you can’t adopt them, consider fostering. It’s a good short-term option for people who can’t do the long-term commitment. You’re helping save animals while also bringing some joy to your family in this time of crisis – that’s two birds with one stone.
Stay Physically & Mentally Sane
Physically and mentally healthy people can find ways to convert all of their problems and negative energy around their environment into positive experiences and opportunities to learn. Reading books, solving puzzles, and playing video games are all mentally stimulating activities that can keep your brain active. Indoor exercises, yoga, and meditation are all good physical activities that use the muscles so that they don’t go into atrophy, and it helps keep you in shape.
Seek Professional Help
If you suspect that a member of your family is going through an emotional problem, seek professional counsel. Times of extreme distress can further worsen conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Seeing a therapist can help your loved ones by serving as an outlet for their worries. Apart from traditional psychotherapy treatment that is usually accompanied by prescription medication, you should also consider Neurotherapy. If you are uncertain what that is, Neuro Hope, and center for Neurofeedback Treatment in Colorado Springs, explains that it is training your brain to become healthier by using your brain wave activity to create better pathways in your mind.
Whatever treatment you feel you need it is always good to seek help if you are experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Volunteer or Donate
Similar to fostering or adopting a pet, volunteering or donating to those in need are other things you can do that doesn’t involve a direct or material payback. The simple gesture of giving to the homeless or helping the elderly can create positive energy. Donating secondhand clothing, toiletries, food supplies, and other essentials can be an easy way of achieving a sense of emotional fulfillment during the COVID-19 crisis.
Consider the Environmental Benefits
COVID-19 has forced countries and densely populated cities to go into lockdown mode. This means fewer cars on the roads, fewer people going out to shop, fewer resources consumed at rampant rates, and a chance for the world’s ecosystems to recover from massive carbon emission dumps. This is unarguably the most important silver lining to take from the viral outbreak, and realizing it can help offset the grim and gloomy statistics and news surrounding COVID-19.
Final Thoughts
Staying positive in light of what’s happening is all about how you view things. It’s understandable that fear and panic are the two most prolific reactions from the public, but by staying updated with the news, being careful, and following the aforementioned advice on this article, you can get through the crisis with a positive outlook in life and a more improved mind and body.
Author Bio:
Samantha Higgins is a professional writer with a passion for research, observation, and innovation. She is nurturing a growing family of twin boys in Portland, Oregon with her husband. She loves kayaking and reading creative non-fiction.
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
