HUTCHINSON, Kan. — All of the news and the ever-changing environment in connection with COVID-19 is certainly causing more anxiety and stress than normal.
So what are some things you can do to ease that stress?
“One of the important things to do is to reconnect with what you have control over,” Horizons COO Brenda Brown said. “Often times we are in situations where we don’t have control and, if we start focusing on that, it enhances our anxiety. But if you focus on the things you can control, that will help.”
Brown says it is also a good time to reconnect with things you may have at home, such as whittling away that honey-do list.
“If you’re confined to your house or stuck at home with your kids . . . what are some things you have been wanting to do with that to-do list? We all have a to-do list,” Brown said. “It’s something that’s going to make you feel like you’re productive.”
Brown says, with children at home because of school closings, it’s a great time to interact again and keep children in a good frame of mind at this time.
“This is a great time to reconnect with your kids and get some board games out,” Brown said. “Get back to the basics, maybe pull out a game of Monopoly. Kids can really be influenced by these scary situations, but they’re going to follow our lead. I think as parents if we can provide that calm and reassuring nature that they’re going to follow their lead with that.”
Brown says getting exercise and getting outdoors whenever possible is also helpful.
She added that if you feel things are starting to slip away from you a bit, you can call the Horizons hotline at 1-800-794-0163.