People keep saying that we’re living in an unprecedented time of disruption and uncertainty. When I hear that, I tend to push back just a little. Humankind has lived through war, pestilence, plagues, and we have persevered. We persevere because we hustle. We think about innovative solutions, but we also rely on our community. Speaking of community, I was very grateful to have Lorna Borenstein join me on my podcast to talk about her well-being platform Grokker.
Anxiety, stress, and insomnia are high right now. Lorna’s not only doing incredible work through her company but also offered some great insight and advice, which may help us all calm down, just a little.
Let’s address working parents. Many are working from home with their children while businesses and schools are shut down, and they are stressed out. Lorna had some tips and ideas for parenting during this difficult time.
First, she said, focus on establishing a new routine. “If you talk to any of the leading psychologists, they will tell you it is very, very important when you have been shifted out of your normal routine; to establish a new routine and new schedule. So yes, you are no longer going to school, you’re no longer going to your place of work. But you have to establish a new routine so that things don’t feel quite so amorphous,” Lorna says.
Second, be sure you are addressing anxiety. Here’s more from Lorna, “The second thing that we need to pay attention to is how do you address the anxiety you have? Well, first, acknowledge it. We are feeling the anxiety, and we can’t just sweep it under the rug.”
So, how can you reduce anxiety during this pandemic?
One of the topics covered in Grokker’s COVID-19 Preparedness course includes how to manage your anxiety. Lorna shared some anxiety-reducing strategies such as:
- Positive self-talk
- Practice Mindfulness
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques
- And maintaining your routines
If you are feeling anxious, scared, or run-down, Lorna stresses that you shouldn’t be shy or embarrassed about using anxiety-reducing tools. Remember, we’re all going through this together.