COVID-19 Crisis Resource Page

COPING WITH THE COVID-19 CRISIS

RESOURCE PAGE

This page is devoted to providing expert advice and resources focused on coping and navigating through the many challenges presented by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advice from Dr. Diane Kern

Below are personal management strategies to help you reduce stress and feel empowered in the face of challenges presented by the COVID-19 Crisis.

Get Adjusted to Teleworking

Recognize and Utilize the Benefits (no commute; increased flexibility; fewer distractions or interruptions from co-workers, etc.)

Find Work-Life Balance (set limits on work; structure personal time vs. work time; organize personal vs. work space; address the needs of family, such as childcare and educational needs of children, etc.)

Get Adjusted to Sheltering in Place

Find Ways to Combat Isolation, if You Live Alone (connect with others with phone calls, video chats, email, texts; send cards, etc.)

Combat Boredom ( take advantage of extra time at home; find ways to nurture and entertain self and family members; embark on learning something new; create a schedule each day to feel in control of time, etc. )

Manage Anxiety, Stress and Depression

Adopt a Healthy Self-Care Regimen (find ways to address health needs; get proper nutrition, rest, sleep and exercise)

Maintain a Positive Attitude (see the benefits; find optimism; focus on what you are grateful for, etc.)

Stay Informed and Avoid Being Overwhelmed (set reasonable limits on exposure to news; adopt a social media schedule)

Acknowledge Your Concerns, Feelings, Distress and the Disruption and Losses, that Impact Your Life (validate your feelings, such as boredom, anger, and sadness that make sense; however, they do not have to overpower you)

Get Calm (practice relaxation, meditative techniques to get calm and grounded)

Connect with others (reach out and nurture, reinforce relationships with others, through calls, texts, video chats, social media, mail, etc.)

Assign Meaning and Purpose (Find your sense of purpose during this time)

See and Take Advantage of the Opportunities

Consider Employment / Career Moves and Changes (now have more time to explore; network and develop connections; fine tune resume; etc.)

Learn New Skills and Pursue Educational Goals (check out the online learning opportunities; upgrade skills and certifications; explore your curiosity, etc.)

For those of you, who lost a job, due to the COVID-19 crisis:

Are you feeling lost?
Are you feeling anxious and not sure about how to go about replacing your work and income?
Are you unsure about what new directions to take to regain employment and income

If so, then you are not alone. Feeling lost, anxious and saddened are common emotional reactions in response to the disruption and uncertainty about the future caused by the COVID-19 crisis. What’s important now is that you rally your energy and resources to get employed and earn income again, as soon as possible.

To help you move ahead and get unstuck, here is a problem solving approach that consists of the following actions: Awareness and Acknowledgment; Assessment; and Address, as follows:

Problem Solving Model:

Awareness and Acknowledgement of the Situation:

Where are you currently, in terms of employment and / or income?
What happened? Be clear that this was not your fault.
Define the problem, losing your job has caused.

Assessment of the Impact of What has Happened:

How has losing your job and income affected you?
How are you doing as a result of these losses?
What do you need at this time?

Address the Problem to Solve Your Unemployment / Financial Situation:

Recognize and utilize your skills, abilities and internal resources to earn income.
Identify useful resources, both those you possess and external sources.
Put an action plan in place to replace your employment and income.

In order to best utilize these three steps that can mobilize you toward replacing your employment and income, it is helpful to check in with yourself and get in touch with your own internal intelligence tools.

Use your SPIES to Help You Solve Your Unemployment and Income Problem:

Great news! You have SPIES that can help you survive during this difficult time and enable you to eventually thrive once this crisis ends.

The SPIES model, as created by Dr. Diane Kern refers to your internal tools that can help guide and give you valuable direction toward solving your immediate problem of unemployment and loss of income. This model enables you to get a total picture across 5 parts of yourself: the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social areas of functioning and well-being.

Check in with yourself and increase your self-awareness within this situation, regarding your functioning, your assets and your needs. Use these investigative tools at your disposal to become empowered and mobilized.

Your SPIES relate to the different parts of you that represent your total self, as follows:

S: Spiritual (Your sense of purpose; passion; religious faith; guiding ethics and principles, etc.)

Maintain and exercise your faith
Get grounded and centered (Meditate; Pray; Be still and quiet)
Reflect on your purpose; the meaning of this situation; ways it presents possibilities
Connect with what you are passionate about

P: Physical (physical health and tangible / material resources)

Stay healthy and safe
Determine how your physical assets can help you obtain employment
Identify what tangible or material resources you have and / or need.

I: Intellectual (Your thinking ability; cognitive skills; creativity; knowledge base; experience)

What do you know? How can you use what you know to help yourself now?
How do you obtain the knowledge and skills that you need?

E: Emotional (Your feelings, attitude and personality)

Get calm, so you can think clearly. Accept what you can and cannot control.
Get energized and be optimistic, so you can see and maximize the possibilities.

S: Social (your interpersonal relationships; nature and quality of your interactions)

Who do you know? What do they know? How can they help?
Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.
Identify and reach out to persons, who can provide useful information, connections and resources related to your employment search and earning income.

COPING WITH THE COVID-19 CRISIS

Advice from Dr. Diane Kern

Other Resource Links