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Crisis Invetevention: Pandemic & Natural Disaster

Activities during Natural Disaster & Pandemic
By Amela Sandra Dzurlic


It may feel like a winter vacation—being snowed in your home with nowhere to go. During the COVID-19 crisis, it is best to focus on doing the things that you’ve always wanted to get done but never had the time to. However, with a positive mindset you can overcome the sluggish negative thoughts and feelings of hopelessness caused by the pandemic by making purposeful use of your time.

Being productive helps individuals feel a sense of accomplishment and gratitude, both of which are positive emotions.
This is the perfect opportunity to retract and distract yourself from boredom and no activities. Turning free time into time for productivity. Here’s a list of what to do:

• Eat Well
- Homemade veggie and/or fruit juices
- Morning smoothies
- Virtual Yoga on Tuesdays hosted by N.A.M.I.
- Make a sandwich for the next day
- Eat what you’ve always wanted but never had the time to prepare & cook

• Socializing 
- Join a group on Facebook and meet new people
- Try a Support Group or Group Therapy
- Schedule a time to call up a friend and check-in with them
- Ask your local veggie market what new fruit are available or what’s in season and add a new fruit and/or veggie to your diet
- Pluck out toxic friends and create a ‘Dream Friend’ list by listing the qualities you seek in a good friend

• Work & House work
- Clean out your closet
- Disinfect and donate your unused or neglected clothing
- Read your unread e-mails from two months ago
- Review and read any documents saved that you’ve forgotten about
- Clean up your computer from old apps, unsubscribe from services you no longer use

• Emotional, Physical & Mental Wellness:
- Redesign your self-care routine
- Prepare for a spiritual detox and inner-cleansing
- Heal emotional pain by practicing mindfulness meditation
- Do a fifteen minute aerobic or chair yoga in the comfort of your home
- Review your safety plan and recovery goals, gently, make sure you’re following through and keeping up
- Create a list of all of the things on your mind before mind and title the list “Late Night Thoughts for Morning Contemplation’
- Create a bedtime routine until it turns into a your ritual habit

If all you want to do is improve your diet and sleep longer, that’s fine too. There is no one-size-fits-all self-care plan or recovery. Everyone is unique with their own expectations, efforts, wants, needs and desired outcomes. Please take care of your health and well being in general. Implementing mindfulness in daily life can really benefit you with your journey in healing.



More literature on mental health and the pandemic

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