6 Tips for Coping with Stress During the COVID-19 Crisis

Here at ExecLevel Wellness, we help “type A”, over 40 high level professionals & entrepreneurs conquer stress to lead their best lives. We do that with our From Stressed to Best programs and scientifically designed supplements.  

 

But we’ve had a whole new stressor show up in the past few weeks that is completely new and warrants special attention…

  • If you’re in corporate America, you may be working from home  and leading your teams remotely may be introducing new challenges to your already stressful life. 
  • If you’re a small business owner you may be going through financial hardship.
  • Healthcare workers are under extreme stress right now.

 

And the list goes on…

 

So we wanted to check in on you and see how you’re doing and give you some tips to manage the added stress.  

 

We’d love for you to say hello in the comments and let us know where you’re reading from.  How is the situation where you are? 

 

Ok, let’s jump into our tips for coping with stress during the outbreak:

TIP 1: Social Contact

It is normal to feel sad, stressed, confused, scared or even angry during a crisis.  Talking to people you trust can help.

  • Contact your friends & family
  • Check in on your neighbors
  • Facetime, Skype etc., use technology to stay connected from a distance

 

TIP 2: Maintain a healthy lifestyle

If you must stay at home maintain your healthy routine and basic self care, especially the top three:

  • Proper nutrition – nutrient dense foods (lean protein, fruits, veggies, grains)
  • Get adequate sleep – so important!
  • Exercise – move your body however you can, get your heart rate up and the endorphins flowing – there is no better stress buster.  We have been doing at home workouts for the past 10 years and we consider them to be the best alternative out there for busy high level professionals and entrepreneurs who don’t have time to commute to the gym or work around a personal trainers schedule. 

Those are the basics but our clients are SO BUSY and on the run all of the time, you might be struggling to think of other ideas.  Here are just a few GREAT stress busting ideas you can do, get creative and do what brings you joy (all of these suggestions have scientific evidence to back up their stress-busting abilities):

Get out in nature

Find ways to laugh 

Play a musical instrument 

Take a bath

Listen to music

Play with the kids – 2 legged or 4 legged; if you don’t have any pets consider fostering a cat or dog –  shelters & rescues are in crisis too.

Do the home projects you’ve been putting off – decluttering / cleaning closets, etc.

Yoga, meditation, Pilates (available on BOD)

Cooking or baking

 

TIP 3: Don’t self-medicate / numb out

Don’t use 

  • smoking, 
  • alcohol or other drugs or 
  • emotional eating 

to deal with your emotions. If you feel overwhelmed, talk to a health worker or counselor or your Coach. Have a plan for where to go and how to seek help for physical and mental health needs if required.

 

TIP 4: GET THE FACTS! 

Gather information that will help you accurately determine your risk so that you can take reasonable precautions. Find a credible source you can trust such as: 

  • World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/)
  • CDC (https://www.coronavirus.gov/)
  • National Institutes of Health Institute of Allergies & Infectious Diseases (https://www.niaid.nih.gov/)
  • local or state public health agency.

 

TIP 5:  UNPLUG & DISCONNECT

Unplug from the mainstream media and social media platforms. Protect your brain! Limiting your access to the fear mongering and {sometimes} just plain wrong information will greatly improve your stress levels.

 

TIP 6: Draw on your special talents & skills

All of our clients are high performers and have dealt with a lot of stress and adversity in their lives.  Draw on skills you have used in the past that have helped you to manage previous life’s adversities and use those skills to get through this.

    • Rely on things that bring your comfort during stressful times
    • Show gratitude for what you still have
    • Focus on what you can control and be diligent on taking action
    • LET GO of what you cannot control, such as:
      • How others are behaving / complying with social distancing
      • How long this will last
      • What the outcomes will be
      • The amount of toilet paper at the store
      • Other people’s motives
      • How others react

 

Call to Action

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself daily to help implement the tips we’ve provided today — because let’s face it, knowledge without action is worthless:

 

  1. What am I grateful for today?
  2. Who am I checking in on or connecting with today?
  3. What things out of my control am I letting go of today?
  4. How am I getting outside today?
  5. How am I moving my body today?
  6. What beauty am I either creating, cultivating or inviting in today?

 

Be kind to each other and let’s stay connected through this crisis. 

 

We will come out stronger but it may be a bumpy ride.

 

We will continue to provide scientific, evidence based resources if we think they will help you manage your stress but otherwise we want to keep our platforms a place of positivity, motivation & inspiration for you to connect with other high achievers away from the noise of it all. 

 

Be safe and well.

 


We are on a MISSION to help over 40 high level professionals and entrepreneurs to conquer stress so that they can live their best life.  Download our FREE guide REJUVENATE: 24 Techniques to  Beat Stress.

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References:

Mental Health Considerations during COVID-19 Outbreak:

https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/mental-health-considerations.pdf?sfvrsn=6d3578af_2 

Find the latest information from WHO on where COVID-19 is spreading:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/

Advice and guidance from WHO on COVID-19:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 https://www.epi-win.com/

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