What are you doing in Corona times?

“Man can be robbed of everything, but not the last of human freedoms: that of choosing one’s attitude in a set of given circumstances, of choosing one’s own way of being.”(Viktor Frankl, Man in Search of the Meaning of Life)

Any crisis, whether individual or collective, is like hitting a strong wave, when we swim in the ocean waters. When we oppose the current, we will be dragged adrift on the bottom of the ocean, submerged, hit, and drowned. When we rise above the wave and accept to go with the current, we are like a surfer who makes wonderful pirouettes, using the force of the ocean.How do we relate to this profound global crisis that we are all going through, the Covid pandemic? We allow ourselves to be crushed by the weight of fear and anxiety, by the enormous amount of news and information that induce panic and confusion, we think where to run, where to hide, how to proceed, our children and our parents, so that in the end we are alive? Or we aim a little higher, aimig not only to survive, but to grow, to mature, so that at the end of this experience we are not only alive, but happier, stronger, more aligned with ourselves and more connected with others and with life itself.For this purpose, here are some recommendations:

1. Set a goal for this period. What is your personal goal in this experience? Or, as one of my clients expressed it, “What are you doing in Corona times?”. In his wonderful book, “Man in Search of the Meaning of Life”, Viktor Frankl recounts that “among other things, I owe my survival in the camp to my decision to restore the confiscated manuscript.” His first novel, in the form of a manuscript, had been confiscated upon entering the camp, and during his stay at Auschwitz, Frankl recreated the manuscript on pieces of paper stolen by a colleague from the camp’s offices.A client of mine bought a guitar and started learning to play the guitar. Another started working on a medical application that he had dreamed of for a long time. We can propose to

we develop a new skill, do sports, learn a foreign language, start meditating, pay more attention to ourselves and get to know each other better, spend a different kind of time with family or friends.

2. Make a daily schedule and be disciplined. The fact that we stay at home does not mean that we have to wake up late and spend the whole day in pajamas. Wake up at approximately the same time as the routine before the pandemic and dress moderately (not too skimpy, not too loose). Include in your daily routine sports and movement, healthy food, work, hobbies, socializing with family members or friends on the phone or online, initiating new activities. Go to bed at approximately the same time as your usual routine, before the pandemic.

3. Take care of your immune system. If we all stay locked in our houses, without seeing the sun light, soaked in fear and anxiety and compulsively baking pies from the bags of flour, cornmeal and sugar that we carried in the last weeks from the store, in a couple of weeks, we will all be devitalized, physically, mentally, emotionally and with a very weakened immune system. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, do sports, go outdoors and sit in the sun, on the balcony, in the yard, in front of the building or in the adjacent park, respecting the social distancing recommendations.

4. Take care of your mental health. In addition to physical health, emotional balance is very important during this period. Do not expose yourself to the news for more than 30 minutes a day. Limit the time you spend on social networks and other communication channels, which keep you connected to fear, panic and anxiety. Prepare an “emotional balance toolkit” to use when you feel the tension rising. You can include in this kit deep breathing, mindfulness techniques, guided meditation, grounding techniques, muscle relaxation, yoga, call a friend, go out in the sun, write in a journal, get involved in a relaxing activity-hobby, etc. Make a list of such tools and display it in a visible place. In conditions where the isolation is done as a couple, family or between friends, offer yourself as much touch as possible, touch calms the body and mind and induces a state of relaxation.

5. As much as possible, don’t stay alone. For those who live as a couple, family or group of friends, the company offered by others will help them get through this period better. For those who live alone, explore the possibility of moving temporarily or welcoming a friend, a relative, someone with whom you will enjoy spending time together. Socialization and the company offered by others is an important factor in reducing anxiety, increasing resilience and the ability to adapt and personal growth and development.

6. Express your gratitude. Isolation at home comes with many limitations – we can’t meet friends, we can’t go to our favorite places, bars, restaurants, we can’t go to movies or concerts, sports activities, we fear for our safety and that of our family. It is a very good period to easily see all the blessings in our life, things that we take for granted and that now is the time to recognize them. Make a list of all the things you are grateful for – your and your family’s health, your workplace, your business or profitable activity, your clients, your suppliers, your family, your friends, your house, your car, everything, absolutely everything that is in our lives and makes us possible everyday life. In the evening, at bedtime, do a gratitude meditation in which you are thankful for all these things.

And the Corona pandemic, like other trials in our lives, will pass at some point. Let this experience be with as little trauma and as much wisdom as possible, with as little fear and as much love as possible.