A: We feel you! Here are four research-based tips to plant the seeds of change even as many of us are still buried under the (literal and figurative) snow. 😊 Say no more often. You might call it the “yes, sure… oh, dang” problem. Academics call it hyperbolic discounting. It’s the challenge we all have …
A: Caregivers need a back-up plan, a much deserved recharge, and financial support. Caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic has been further strained by disrupted child care, social isolation, unemployment, and a contagious and debilitating virus. If the caregivers fall, so does everything else. Caregivers come in many forms and are the backbone of daily life …
Q: The last year has been tough financially for my family, and now, in addition to worrying about health, we’re fighting about money. A: This Valentine’s Day, forget flowers. Talk money with your honey (or have a heart-to-heart with yourself) about setting up an emergency fund, rethinking your budget and planning what’s next for your …
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Aparna Kumar and Christine Whelan will be joined by Lauren Ross, founder of Project Village! We’ll be tackling questions from our readers about mental health and community in the pandemic. If you have a question, put it in our question box at www.dearpandemic.org. ➡️ Welcome, Intros, …
A: You are not alone: Surveys tell us that adults in the U.S. are reporting the highest stress levels since the early days of the pandemic. If the obvious stress-busting advice hasn’t helped, we’ve got some bigger-picture ideas to ponder. According to the American Psychological Association’s just-released January 2021 Stress Snapshot, 84% of American adults …
Q: With school closures and working from home, I feel as if I am always saying no to my young child. How can I help my child understand “NO” in a kind way? A: Acknowledge feelings, help meet your child’s needs, and use nonverbal communication. Dr. Carolyn Broudy of the Family Connections Center provides a …
Q: And what can each personality type do to stay mentally healthy right now? A: The emotional toll of the pandemic has been tough on both extroverts and introverts. Research tells us taking a growth-mindset approach to personality is the healthiest way to stay flexible, and that communication about your socio-emotional needs is more important …
Q: A lot of it has to do with other people not taking COVID-19 as seriously as me. What can I do? A: Feel all the feels, engage in meaningful interactions, and focus on you. 😤 FEEL ALL THE FEELS: Remember the movie Inside Out? Joy, sadness, anger, grief, and disgust all have a role …
Q: I’ve heard people using language about trauma and COVID-19. Can you explain? I know COVID-19 is bad… but what makes it traumatizing? A: COVID-19 has caused tragic loss for people around the world. What we consider to be a *loss* is very personal, and can be so emotionally intense that it creates traumatic responses. …
A: 🍃 Change is never easy. And we have been dealing with a lot of it over the past year. Change challenges our minds because it creates uncertainty in our thoughts and the actions of our daily lives. But there ARE things we can do to manage our discomfort with uncertainty: control what we can, …
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