The world is learning a new normal amid COVID-19 and I know I’m not the only one feeling large amounts of anxiety over it. The vulnerability of those in my life who are immunocompromised, uninsured or susceptible is not lost on me.

Sure, things are looking a little different right now. I’m confident the world will get through it.

These are some of the ways I’ve been caring for myself amid anxiety and stress. These can be done in self-quarantine too!

1. Turn off the news

   While it's be extremely important to stay informed about the pandemic, if you, like me, go into anxiety spirals when numbers are thrown at you, turn off the news. Remove updates from your social feeds or phone settings. We don’t need to be causing ourselves more suffering when this is all so new and none of us are going to be experts for awhile. Remember to take breaks and direct your attention to something more positive from time to time.

2. listen to calming music

   My own personal anxiety has been showing up in psychogenic symptoms and catastrophic thinking. One way I find I can shut it all down is to get calming sounds going through my ears to my brain. Try meditation, sound therapy or even just a calming playlist like this one here and give yourself permission to believe it’s all going to be okay.

3. call loved ones

   It might sound like an inconsequential thing, but if we shouldn't be within 6 feet of someone for more than 10 minutes, we should be calling them on the phone! I know talking to my family and friends always makes me feel a little safer and like I’m not so alone. I’m trying to find a time that my friends and I can hop on a group video call to catch up and enjoy each other’s company virtually. Community is major for our mental health, so prioritize time focused on those you love. If you have relatives in another country, try using WhatsApp or another social platform to keep up with how they’re doing.

4. Put a spotlight on the small wins

   This is exactly what I’m trying to do on my social channels. Lots of companies are doing great things to check privilege and increase accessibility in these times. One such example is a local brunch spot here in the cities, Hope Breakfast Bar, which started pulling resources together in order to offer free breakfast to families in need and has since fully transitioned into a community kitchen!

   We can all be doing things to help small businesses, too. You’ll feel better if you choose to pick up dinner from a local spot that really needs your help, or just donate to a business that’s putting forth meaningful change in the community. Focusing on positivity is a game-changer for our mental states even when the world isn’t experiencing a global pandemic. Go ahead and celebrate every small win you hear about, whether it's coming from a corporation or a person you don’t know.

5. Snuggle in and get cozy

   There’s just something about getting my home clean, organized and cozy that makes me feel better about things I can’t control. The more homey my space is, the more secure I tend to feel. The lesson here is that there are things I can control. I can control how clean and tidy I keep my belongings. I can control what I keep out and about versus what I can safely pack away into storage. I can control a lot of what I put into my body and how much sleep I get. We can all control our free time and adjust based on how anxious or lonely we’re feeling at the time.

   I think it’s incredibly important to be thinking of others before ourselves at this time, but also to be showing ourselves grace. There’s a lot of pressure around how to do all of this the “right” way, and granted, we should be doing what we can to listen to all of the CDC's instructions. But if you need food or vitamins or (god forbid) toilet paper, you should go and get some (just not in ridiculous amounts, because, seriously Barb, you don’t need 5 packs of toilet paper--we should be thinking of OTHERS here), because it's going to be necessary to take care of yourself. There’s an immense opportunity right at this very moment for the world to come together in a common cause. Do what you can, when you can. Take care of those you love. Let’s get through this together.