When Crisis Hits, Do These 5 Things

"1. Let the people around you give to you, help you, and support you.

Some of your most important resources are the people around you. This includes friends and family, and others in your community who may formally or informally be able to help. It’s important to invest in connections with good people as a key focus of your life. And when times get rough, don’t hesitate to reach out to friends and family, as well as new social connections or community resources, for help and support.

2. Protect your means to earn a living.

When crisis or tragedy broadsides your life, protect your work or your livelihood. When things are going well, nurture your work, your skills, your qualifications, and your ability to make an income carefully, so that it’s all there for you when things go sideways. Yes, sometimes circumstances are so difficult that you must take time off (or maybe lose your job), but keep working if you can, even if it’s really hard. Show up and do good work. Be responsible and reliable. Protecting your work can be the thing that gets you through a crisis, psychologically and financially.

You can additionally protect your financial health, and your ability to weather a crisis or disaster, by having appropriate insurance coverage, keeping your legal affairs in order, minimizing or eliminating debt, and building savings, such as a six-month emergency fund.

3. Draw strength from structure.

Structure in your life makes you more resilient. When life sends you spinning, it’s natural to want to chop away at your life and your responsibilities to create space to deal with or emotionally process the crisis. And for sure, there are times for that. As a rule, though, don’t dismantle the structure of your life. Keep showing up and doing what you can, while simultaneously taking care of your needs. That structure is precious psychological and physical scaffolding that you need in difficult times.

4. Make choices that will make your life better, not worse, when the dust settles.

One of the best lessons I learned from the various unwanted crises I have experienced is that you should fight back against the terrible blows or events that life hands out by being ferociously committed to caring for yourself in those times. Be determined, with everything that’s in you, to not do things that you’ll regret. There are lots of things that might feel good or provide relief in the moment but will cause your life to spiral further down.

Ask yourself, “What would be the most useful thing, for myself and my life, that I could do right now?” Choose to do something healthy, positive, or constructive with your negative energy. High-five yourself mentally when you do it.

5. Look after your health.

As an absolute priority, make time for the key building blocks of physical health and well-being in tough times. Make them the foundation of your days, as hard as it may be. Get enough sleep. Choose nutritious foods. Make sure you have healthy food in your house and eat three good meals a day. If you have to eat out, make it something healthy that vitalizes you. Even fast food places have “better” choices on their menu—choose those. These life-giving choices, made as often as possible, will help you to be restored, well-fueled, de-stressed, and energized, and far more able to deal with whatever it is you have to navigate."

Read the complete article available at Psychology Today!

Reflection:

Are there some other things you can add which would help when a crisis hits?

#Crisis #Support #Self-care