Strike a balance in your ‘new normal’
How to maintain our great work and mental health in dealing with Covid-19.
AS we adjust to going back to work and our routines during the Covid19 crisis, it makes sense that we’re worried what this means for our health and safety.
Most countries are struggling to strike a balance between mitigating the pandemic while addressing their ailing economies. And for all involved, it’s a challenge of solving a health crisis while trying to fully understand it.
As Malaysia continues to be praised for it’s handling of the problem, nations like the United States and Britain have been far less successful in flattening the curve.
Malaysia appears to understand what they don’t: the economy is important, but so are the lives of those whose job is to keep it going.
The failure to take this matter seriously, as we see in these other countries, means that people are less likely to stick to effective measures that have been implemented here. With the easing of restrictions, the government has been clear in its message that these measures still need to be observed. Relaxing the MCO to CMCO doesn’t mean the end of the problem.
Even the best-prepared governments can’t overcome this crisis by themselves – they need their citizens to play their part in making sure everyone stays safe. In a pandemic, we might spend time alone, but the situation can only be overcome if we work together to take care of each other’s health. One problem in dealing with a virus is that the enemy is near invisible. As a result, unless it affects us or our loved ones, it’s hard to see how our actions help in keeping everyone safe.
But that’s exactly what we’re achieving by following the MCO and CMCO. At the time of writing, Malaysia has 6,656 recorded Covid19 infections, while Britain has 135,982 – that’s 20 times the amount of cases, despite them having a population only 1.75 times more than us. Looking at these numbers, we can see how effective leadership connects to how seriously people take a national crisis, and how effective our actions are as a result in keeping the number of infections low.
Stepping back into our previous life, there will be strict measures in place as people return to a “new normal” and businesses reopen. To sustain the diligence for which we have been praised, here are some tips to keep in mind:
The easing of restrictions doesn’t mean the end of the virus
Covid-19 will be a threat until a vaccine is found. Until then, we should stick to reliable health advice that includes regularly washing our hands, limiting social interaction and maintaining physical distancing.
Know that your actions matter
We’ve heard protesters in the United States say: “I’m responsible for my own health, you’re responsible for yours!” In truth, we’re all responsible for each other. While all the sensible actions we take might not seem important, they make a huge difference.
Incidentally, the United States currently has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world. That’s more than the next nine countries combined, which have a total population size 2.5 times larger than the United States. Therefore, attitude and diligence matter.
Be careful but don’t be obsessive
While we look after our physical well-being, it’s also important to take care of our mental health. So long as we take necessary precautions, we’re already doing what we can to minimise the risk of infection.
Obsessing over the news or checking daily figures will only feed our fear and anxiety. It’s important to be careful, yet we also have to live our lives as we adjust to new circumstances.
Have gratitude for your health It’s the one thing we take for
granted the most, so we sometimes fail to take care of our own emotional or mental state. When we are mindful of our well-being, when we feel gratitude towards it, we make healthier choices. We eat better, get enough sleep, exercise, and invest in our relationships.
All of these things are strongly shown by research to improve the immune system and keep us in good shape. We needn’t be superhealthy – with my sweet tooth, I’m certainly not – but by ensuring we make better choices than otherwise gives the immune system a helping hand.
These are just some of the ways we can help ourselves and others to manage the transition as we ease back into familiar routines and restore a degree of normality.
It’d be interesting to know how others are coping as we shift into this new phase, so please get in touch if you have any tips or insights to share.
Sandy Clarke has long held an interest in emotions, mental health, mindfulness and meditation. He believes the more we understand ourselves and each other, the better societies we can create. Email him at lifestyle@thestar.com.my. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.