Self-Love in the Time of Corona

By Kika Pérez

One day the world suddenly stopped. Everything came to a screeching halt. But it wasn’t Earth’s rotation that paused. It was the people living on the planet who were suddenly forced to hide from one of the worst enemies they had ever faced: an invisible, ubiquitous and merciless crown-shaped invader who would take their air and their loved ones. 

That could well be the opening of an eerie documentary, narrating the tragic doomsday tale we are going through with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) global emergency.  Now, let’s ask ourselves how else we could spin this story, in a way where, without denying or dismissing the suffering and pain of so many, it could still show a glimpse of hope and an ending that sounded more like a new beginning. 

For our own safety, most of us are now indefinitely forced to stay at home, isolated and distanced. But what if this could be a “make lemonade” scenario where, at the impossibility of going outside, we instead, go inside. Somewhere between the impotence and despair, we might finally comes across that breakthrough we’ve been needing for so long.

How to find your self-love in the time of Coronavirus:

1. Start by being grateful.
You’ve heard this one before and it is so powerful and important. Those who start their day by saying thank you for everything they have, are happier and experience less negative emotions and anxiety.

Appreciate everything around you; the roof over your head, the comfortable couch you are laying on, the food in your fridge (or your tummy), the furry best friend who licks your feet while you read this. Even the phone in your hand is a powerful resource. If you are safe and healthy, acknowledge and cherish that you have what you need and that despite the chaos, you are okay.

2. Prioritize what’s important.
We’ve developed a character; a public version of ourselves. How we look, our demeanor and agenda has to do with our need to fit in and be admired by those around us. Being stuck at home in our pajama pants, with no makeup or gimmicks, sure puts everything in perspective, about how much of our existence revolves around appearance, image, and superficial values. But in times of need, we realize nothing else matters except each other.

Our addiction to money and things proves pointless when survival is key. No amount of power or fame can save us this time. This virus is teaching us an invaluable lesson in equality as it attacks everyone just the same, regardless of gender, race or social status. So let’s heed the warning and change our mindset by growing into a new perspective, where awareness, solidarity and empathy become our most valuable currency. 

3. Time is your best friend.
For those of us who are not needed for essential duties (Thank you, heroes), being at home is mandatory. But that doesn’t mean you must get bored and start moping around, eating potato chips while you obsessively watch every stressful Coronavirus update. Instead, take a shower, look for a quiet place and make a list of rewarding things you can do during this time, that will make your forced staycation a bit more tolerable and a lot more successful.

Think of those hobbies you never get to indulge in: read that book, listen to the new Pearl Jam album, become the amateur chef you always wanted to be, do a closet clean-up with your kids, and please make your wife happy by finally organizing that mess in the garage. She’s been begging you since 2012.

We’re always complaining that we never have enough time; Time to rest, time to spend with our families, time to just be. Well, guess what? Right now you get to save the world by doing nothing and time is what you have most of. 

4. Create a proper home office. 
Working from home has become the temporary norm. And it can definitely be a challenging scenario when you’re trying to concentrate, hold virtual meetings, take calls from colleagues and get things done in the middle of a dirty laundry castle, decorated with an explosion of Legos thrown in the air by tiny “co-workers” running around in nothing but their Batman capes.

So we must adapt and design the live-in office our work deserves. Choose a corner that is secluded, has ample light and a neutral background. Order a professional desk and chair to ensure you are as organized and comfortable as possible, which will exponentially increase your desire and performance. You’ll also stay focused by setting the right boundaries to separate your time at the “office” (guest room) from your time at “home” (a.k.a. your bed).

5. Give yourself permission to be human. 
 This is still a very frightening, unsettling and painful situation, as many are currently battling the virus or have lost a family member or friend. So before following our list of tips, or doing whatever else you think you’re supposed to accomplish right now, remember that taking care of yourself is the first step.

Experts in Positive Psychology agree that embracing the nature of our humanity is fundamental and necessary. Feeling confused, scared, disoriented and even a bit depressed is exactly what’s expected from us right now. No one is asking you to build a house, get a Master’s degree or discover the laws of gravity (Newton did but he didn’t have Netflix) during your quarantine. Instead, take a deep breath and take it one day at a time. Let your emotional intelligence guide you.

Do your best to stay active and involved but understand that your entire system has gone into survival mode and you might not be up for a virtual wine party every night or much of anything at all, except hiding under the covers and hoping for this thing to pass soon. So let’s be compassionate with ourselves and others, because we’ve been harshly reminded that love is always the most effective cure. 

Working around the Coronavirus

Keep calm.
Stay informed.
Be safe.

By: Kika Perez

Now that the villainous Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been officially declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, is it more than natural to feel anxiety and even panic, particularly due to the notorious lack of resources, containment power and overall shortcomings of our public officials and healthcare system.

But, regardless of the scary numbers, statistics and hospital nightmares, the best prescription for this and any other emergency is to always remain calm. Letting fear alone drive us is only going to make things worse for everyone. So let’s take a deep breath, keep our cool, look at the facts, listen to the experts, and prepare cautiously without losing our minds.

We paid attention to the World Health Organization, epidemiologists and infectious disease experts on how to keep our composure and slow down the spread of this alarming disease, and created our own “Prevention Checklist for the Office,” so that we may all stay informed, ready and as safe as possible.

1. Work from home.
Staying home is the smartest way to avoid getting the virus or passing it onto others. Working from a secluded, private space with minimal person to person contact and interaction will increase your chances of avoiding the virus altogether and making sure others remain safe too. Countless companies have currently opted for a telecommute dynamic, holding work communications and meetings via video conference and therefore, greatly reducing the chances of exposure and infection.

2. Keep your workspace clean and hygienic.
If you are unable to work from home, then make sure your office remains as safe as possible for your team and visitors. Keep an eye out for contaminated surfaces like desks and tables, and keep objects like telephones and keyboards sanitized by wiping them with disinfectant regularly, “because contamination on surfaces touched by employees and customers is one of the main ways that COVID-19 spreads.”
Another way of ensuring safety inside the office is “promoting good respiratory hygiene.” Ensure that face masks and/or paper tissues are available at your workplaces for those who develop a runny nose or cough, along with closed bins for hygienically disposing of them.”

3. Say hello the smart way.
Stop shaking hands, kissing or hugging. This isn’t a hippie music festival. It’s a serious time.
We can show just as much love or even more by waving from a distance, because we are protecting each other. Let’s keep those societal traditions and niceties aside while we get ahold of this thing.

3. Wash your hands. Wash them a lot.
Our best guess is that coronavirus is transmitted via close contact and surface contamination, so let’s wash our hands like our life depended on it, because it does. Wash them every time you can; after entering a new building or crowded space, after touching door knobs, elevator buttons, etc. Promote regular and thorough hand-washing by employees, contractors and customers and put sanitizing hand rub dispensers in prominent places around the workplace. Make sure these dispensers are regularly refilled and display posters promoting hand-washing.” Soap and water used properly goes a long way in killing the virus on your hands and preventing the spread of COVID-19.

4. Avoid touching your face.
“Or picking your nose, or putting your fingers in your mouth, on your lips, or in your eyes.” If your hands touch a compromised surface and then come in contact with your skin, you are pretty much inviting the virus in. We know it sounds a bit silly, but most of us are unaware of how frequently we touch our faces. It seems almost involuntary. “An observational study found that people sitting at a desk working, touched their eyes, nose or lips between 3 and 50 times per hour.”

5. Social distancing.
In layman terms, simply don’t expose yourself if you don’t need to. Social gatherings, heavily populated spaces, theme parks, subways, trains and of course, airplanes are not exactly the safest places to be at right now. Stay within 6 feet of each other and sanitize shared objects. Avoid high risk places where you can be in contact with sick people. “This public health strategy is our next line of defense, and its implementation is what will lead to flights and events cancelled and borders and schools closed.” Additionally, other measures to protect our communities both locally and globally will be enforced.

6. For the love of life, if you are sick, STAY HOME!
If you start to feel even a little bit sick within a 2 to 14 day period, you need to self isolate. Stay away from other people or pets in your household. Stop sharing household items with family members. Keep all frequently used areas properly sanitized and monitor your health closely. Look for a tiny tickle in your throat or difficulty breathing. Other symptoms include fever, runny nose and sore throat. Please talk to your doctor if you suspect having the COVID-19 and follow their instructions as they might advise you to stay home until you are no longer a contagion risk.

7. And more importantly, don’t panic.
Infectious diseases specialist, Abdu Sharkawy said it best:
“I am not scared of Covid-19. What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic… I am scared of the masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers… I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed… that epidemic fears will ultimately culminate in a global recession… The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and ‘fight for yourself above all else’ attitude could prove disastrous.” Let’s instead  “temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. 
We have an opportunity to learn a great deal and meet… this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge…”


References: From the texts of The World Health Organization, Epidemiologist and Public Health PhD, Dr. Malia Jones and Infectious disease specialist, Dr. Abdu Sharkawy. 
For information related to the COVID-19 and any other global health issue, please visit https://www.who.int