Perhaps you've asked yourself this question: "What impact will social-distancing, self isolation, our changing economy, and our different routines, have on our mental/emotional health?" I've thought about this a fair bit throughout the past month and much more lately as my family is beginning to feel the impact of it all. I believe God has wired most (if not all) of His people to be social beings that crave face-to-face interaction, that is, in-person interaction, (not just through video chat). We desire to love, be loved, and cared for. When our social circles diminish, careers change or disappear, routines drastically shift, and/or when our future seems uncertain, many aspects of our health take a hit... Unless we are careful to take care of ourselves and lean on God (more on that later).
I've also been thinking about kids (not just my own) - how are they handling all of this? We have to remember that kids' worlds have also been flipped upside down in a matter of weeks; many of whom do not fully understand why this has happened, when it will go back to normal or even what the Coronavirus is. So much change in a short period of time can give anyone (no matter what age), stress and anxiety.
I have come across 2 short articles recently that can really help us navigate this changed world we're in. The first is about how parents should talk to their children about the pandemic. Secondly, some tips for teachers (but parents too) on how we can create a self-care plan in order to stay mentally/emotionally strong.
Here are some of the main points from each article, plus the link for each. I highly recommend you read them!
1) "Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus"
https://childmind.org/article/
- Don’t be afraid to discuss Covid-19.
- Be developmentally appropriate.
- Take your cues from your child.
- Deal with your own anxiety.
- Be reassuring.
- Focus on what you’re doing to stay safe.
- Stick to routine.
- Keep talking.
2) "Self-Care Reflection"
https://www.
- Identify what types of physical activity help you feel better.
- Identify what types of food make you feel best.
- What helps your mind feel calm?
- What makes your heart full?
- How much sleep do you need?
- Do you have any devotional/worship practices that will ground you?
One point I'd like to add is that we also need to maintain a proper perspective in the midst of all of this. Yes our lives are different, and we are missing out on many aspects of our normal life, but we are still blessed beyond measure - especially when we compare our situation to other situations around the world; past or current.
I hope you're taking care of each aspect of your health: mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. I also hope that: as believers in Christ, our faith will have been strengthened, not hindered when all of this is done. Take care of yourself and your families and neighbours, and lean of God!
Axel Hiemstra- Gr. 5
Posted by
Joleen @ 01:02 pm
