Schools are starting back up and the online learning scene via virtual zoom platforms has increased the stress level for both parents and teachers. I’ve seen working parents struggle to find assistance in teaching their kiddos, and the options for daycare and afterschool programs are few and far between. The anxiety for most teachers is also quite high as they are learning to quickly transform their curriculum to Canvas and other platforms.
I was talking with some of my teacher friends who have young children themselves and the unknown of whether they are 100% virtual, or in a hybrid system has left them wondering every day about what is in store. Many school districts and cities have varying degrees of “COVID-19 Watch List” status, and are waiting in anticipation of flattening the curve before additional clarity around the teaching protocol is clarified.
also read : Is this our New Normal ?
As if all this wasn’t stressful enough, parts of California have endured evacuations with high fire risks and unbearable heat waves. Smoke filled skies have made some of the outdoor sporting activities impossible. Add to this the political climate and the polarization of views regarding in school versus online school along with all the other emotionally heated beliefs, and we have a perfect storm for both aggression and burn out. People are stressed to their max, their tolerance for change and ambiguity is low, which leads to bad behavior and sometimes unkind rants on social media.
As a therapist, I am seeing so many individuals trying their best to balance the demands of their work, kids care, kids online schooling, job losses, adapting to working from home, etc. With parents now trying to work from home there is increased stress with the need to keep the environment quiet at home, and provide for adequate places to do their work without interruptions. When clients feel like they are failing or unable to succeed at what was once manageable, they may turn to maladaptive coping strategies.
So what’s the most important advice for everyone in this anxiety filled environment?
- Self-Compassion – give yourself some grace and speak kind words to yourself
- Compassion for others – give some compassion to your loved ones who may be increasingly cranky
- Ensure you take frequent breaks and just breathe
- Maintain activities that provide joy and bring laughter into the home
- Meditate and or use something like the “Calm” app to refocus and reset your mood
- Apologize when you are wrong and acknowledge your stress
- Ask for what you need and don’t try to be everything to everyone while ignoring your needs
- Exercise, get adequate sleep, and avoid foods high in carbs and sugar
- Avoid jumping on the bandwagon with other negative or angry people on social media
- Limit your news intake as there is rarely anything positive reported
We are all in this together. How we behave, manage our stress, and embrace change can have a huge impact on others.
Authentic Gains is also providing online family and individual counseling in Folsom, Sacramento and Idaho. If you are interested kindly get in touch via phone or visit https://www.authenticgains.com/