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Update April 2024: When I wrote this post, we were in the middle of a pandemic lockdown. Things have eased in the years that followed but the guidance on maintaining good mental health is still relevant. 

We all knew on Sunday March 22^nd that the lock down called for by Prime Minister Modi was a dress rehearsal for something bigger.

1.3 billion Indians answered Prime Minister Modi’s call for a self-imposed People’s Curfew called Janata Curfew. We also did a 5-minute activity at 5 pm to honor the health workers who are trying to contain the spread of Corona Virus in India.

I loved the 5 pm activity because we were supposed to go into our balconies and clang utensils or clap to make noise! I chose the former and enjoyed beating my spoon against a flat pot cover. Haven’t done that since I was a child and it felt good!

It was the beginning of a lock down that was supposed to last till the end of March but then got extended to April 14th. In a way it is a nationwide curfew and states have sealed their borders.

The fight to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in India had begun in full force.

India started taking precautionary measures earlier than other nations. This week and the next are critical if we are to break the chain and prevent Stage 3.

It’s crucial to avoid what we’re seeing in Italy or New York which will honestly leave a devastation in India that I don’t want to even think about.

The World Health Organization has already praised India for leading the way in the global eradication of smallpox, polio and the measures we have taken so far.

It’s going to be a challenge for us sociable Indians. It’s the acid test to see if we can maintain social distance and exercise self-restraint and self-discipline.

Being socially responsible also means not spreading fake news or creating panic.

Watch television news coverage and resist the temptation to spread social media posts unless you can verify the source and truth.

Admittedly, these are stressful times but we can do our bit not to let the situation get out of hand by maintaining good mental health even as we need to maintain social distance.

Please note, mental health is not to be confused with mental illness.

The famous Mayo clinic has stated that stress can be greatly reduced by positive thinking.

The first step is to end negative self-talk.

There are any number of clichés, such as “you’re making a mountain out of a mole hill,” in terms of blowing things out of proportion. When a person takes a situation and talks themselves into a frenzy, it increases stress.

This in turn, makes the blood pressure go up and in many cases, causes depression. The negative self-talk in their head, becomes an endless loop of, “I’m no good, I hate myself, the world is against me, what chance do I have?”

When a person thinks like this, they find it hard to cope with anything life directs towards them. A positive thinker is able to deflect negativity and find ways to ease or eliminate stressful situations.

Positive thinking also helps build our immune system and a good anti-aging device.

So while I am worried about the days to come, I’m not allowing it to get to me. Instead I’m focusing on my professional development skills and on what I want in the coming months.

I’m using tools from my own toolbox for this and invite you to do the same.

One favorite tool is Pranayam or alternate nostril breathing.

This simple yoga exercise not only strengthens the lungs but also helps us build immunity and calm the mind.

I share the method in my blog post Breathe and meditate to manage stress.

The post also has another resource to keep stress at bay and strengthen your immune system.

Practical ways to stay positive when you feel the world is going crazy

At a time when the life we knew has changed and we are dealing with a new normal of a lock down scenario, it can be challenging to cope and keep ourselves mentally healthy.

You need a strong mindset that gives you the self-discipline and restraint not to break the rules and find excuses to venture out. This isn’t a situation where you can be complacent that this happens to others and not you.

You need to be able to handle change in your stride.

If you are struggling to bring yourself to remain positive in times of calamity, here are some ways I’m using and I know these tips will help you too.

Plan ahead

Planning ahead helps control our stress levels and anxiety and prevents hoarding or panic buying from setting in. While it would be wonderful if one has everything in place before a pandemic strikes, it can still be handled if you take the necessary steps.

Keep a list of numbers of shops where essential goods are being supplied and monitor which online shops are functional as well as the delivery time.

There will be time lags so one step is to store at least a week’s supply of essential food items and medicines.

If you are permitted to venture out of your home for essential needs shopping, make a list before you venture out and comply with the police regulations. That is one way of knowing you can face anything.

Filter information

Avoid bad news whenever you can. Do not focus on the kind of information that will not help rectify the situation.

Pay attention to material that gives advice on how you can overcome or guard against being affected by the worsening of the pandemic. Filtering information can also mean changing the subject when it is brought up countless times.

As I mentioned earlier, stick to reliable sources of information and verify anything you see on social media or rumors that you hear.

Keep exercising in some form

As you know, exercising is a great way of staying positive, staying healthy, and improving your overall physical and mental well-being. Exercising can also help keep your mind in check.

Concentrating on improving your health is another method of staying positive when everyone else is going into panic mode. One mistake you can make when faced with difficulties is changing or cancelling your workout routine. Therefore, keep exercising and enjoy the process.

You don’t need to go to the gym or long walks for this. Simple stretch exercises, yoga and even doing housework will give your body the movement it requires to stay healthy.

Make sure you are allowed to do certain exercises with your medical adviser first.

Focus on happy thoughts

Thinking happy thoughts does not come easy when it seems as if your world is falling apart. That is why you have to try and force your mind to focus on happy thoughts or what is happening internally and not externally.

If you cannot think of anything that shifts your mind from the bad news that is being broadcast everywhere, create happy thoughts.

You can achieve this by envisioning where you will be when all the madness is over and we are back on track. Think about the number of people who have overcome or who are overcoming the same situation you are in, look at your photo album and rekindle the happy memories.

If you need support in developing a forward looking approach, check out Life Focus in 7 Days which includes precious tools including an entire module on creating Vision Boards for the professional who prefers self-study formats.

Manage your finances

Now is a good time to look at your finances and budget. Do you need to curtail your expenses? Are there any monthly payments due that need to be serviced? Like a house or car loan? Insurance premium?

Start allocating funds to cover a period of 3 months and if necessary, renegotiate terms. You need to start managing your finances wisely to avoid having regrets when the problem has passed. Stay calm and avoid compulsive spends and keeping accurate records and information.

Try caring for someone else

Sometimes caring for someone else is all it takes to maintain your sanity. Shift your focus to doing something worthwhile for someone else or putting a smile on someone else’s face.

Achieve this by helping the person you choose to help or care for stay safe or recover from what they are going through.

There are lots of animals who suffer during pandemics. Consider providing food for them or if that is not possible, leave water and grains outside for birds.

Meditate to boost your resilience

Meditation is an excellent way of relaxing your mind and having a much clearer perspective on things. Meditation is a relaxation method that you can begin practicing right away. If it is something that you are practicing already, continuing with it is worthwhile.

Try clearing your mind from negative thoughts and focus on one thing that is positive. Do this every single day for at least 30 minutes without any interruptions.

Continue with your work or studies

You may start panicking if you think that your professional life is on hold during a pandemic. However, realize that not being able to go to the office does not necessarily mean the end of progress- this will help you remain calm. Continue with your work or study even if you cannot go to the office or on campus.

Remember that working or studying from home has its fair share of benefits as well. You are able to work peacefully without the worries of dressing up, with zero or a few distractions. You are able to control your environment and work at your own pace.

If you haven’t visited Karmic Ally Coaching Success Solutions, now is a good time to see what professional development courses are available.

So how am I coping? By remembering what really matters in my life – my family and friends and staying healthy.

Staying positive is important because if we allow fear to set in, half the battle is lost. This is a time of self-discipline, constraint and social distance.

It is also a time to be supportive of others who might not be handling the situation well.

What 1 thing can you do today to assist another person keep good mental health during the pandemic?