Personal resilience in a time of crisis
It’s tough out there, really tough, do your best and know that everyone is feeling the same. I headed for a long walk on the beach yesterday.
With each day the COVID-19 headlines become more alarming. The debate and discussion on social media don’t help. Then there’s disinformation.
The first place to start building personal resilience is to limit your media consumption. Please be responsible and seek out and share fact based sources of information.
The NHS, Public Health England and the World Health Organization are good places to start in the current crisis.
Even so it’s hard not to feel anxious and even panic. It’s an inevitable and wholly understandable response. There’s much that is unknown about COVID-19 and people are dying in the UK and around the world.
Panic leads to dumb decisions
I’ve read countless reports of panic buying. I received an email from the CEO of Sainsbury’s this morning reassuring customers that shelves would remain well stocked so long as shoppers were sensible. But I still bought a four pack of beans this afternoon, just in case.
It’s a wholly irrational and yet inevitable response to a situation that is out of our control. Stocking up cupboards is a small means of asserting control. But it’s foolish. It takes food from a store that someone else might need.
We can’t control COVID-19 but we can manage our response. We need to play our part in fighting the disease and follow government guidance. In the UK, planning and communication remains a work in progress.
We’ve had more than ten years to prepare for this situation. The economy should continue to function thanks to the internet and home working.
I think the biggest challenge we’re set to face is the social implication of self isolation and shifting from shared workspaces to distributed home working.
This isn’t mobile or flexible working. It could be a wholesale change to organisational workflow for a matter of weeks or months and may even have long term ramifications.
I’m focusing my energy on managing this transition supporting my team. I’m also listening carefully to customers and supporting their changing needs as they face the same challenges.
Humanity steps up
The impact of COVID-19 on mental health is a significant concern. We all need to take personal responsibility and look out for ourselves and look out for each other.
Ask for help. You'll be amazed how people respond. Vulnerability is a powerful state. That's why it's so scary.
If you want to make a difference, start in your own relationships, family and community. Humanity is already responding to COVID-19 in heart-warming ways. Helping people out is a positive action that ripples through a community.
Bookshops are offering to send books based on personal recommendation to anyone that is self-isolating. Organisations are building tool kits to amplify and distribute official sources of information. Various projects have sprung up to provide groceries to people stuck at home.
Managing your mental health
Five years ago, I wrote a blog post that included some of the means that I’ve learned to manage my mental health. You can look it up for yourself alternatively here are some ideas that may be helpful.
Have an early night. Sleep is the best form of defence against disease and means of building mental and physical resilience.
Almost every situation can be improved by taking 15 minutes out for a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Beer, gin, whisky and wine also work in moderation, depending on the time of day.
There’s an important postscript to that last point. You are what you eat and drink. Diet is a close second to a good night’s sleep in building resilience.
There’s huge comfort in routine. My wife closes the curtains, dims all the lights in the house and runs a bath at dusk. It signals the end of the day and down time.
Making stuff with your own hands is good for your soul, your community and human development. Explore art and culture and never stop learning.
Growing food connects you directly to the cycles of nature. Nurturing plants, like people, is good for the body, heart and mind.
Heading outside for a walk would be almost certainly be a better use of your time than whatever you had planned in the next 30 minutes.
Finally, whenever faced with the choice either to be a dick, or not to be a dick, choose not to be a dick. It generally makes for a more pleasant experience and easier life.
Look after yourself, wash your hands, and stay safe.
