To say we are living in an uncertain time would be an understatement. People deal with stress regularly — but the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated tension for almost everyone in various ways.
Maybe you or your spouse lost their job. Or perhaps you’re getting used to working from home. Maybe someone in your family has gotten sick or even passed away. Your children have undoubtedly had to go through school changes, whether they’re learning online or following safety regulations to learn in-person.
Not surprisingly, it’s not uncommon for the entire family to feel stressed during these times.
Unfortunately, an overload of stress isn’t good for anyone’s mental, emotional, or physical health. How can you cope when your entire family is stressed?
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness has grown in popularity over the last few years. But, that’s not because it’s some “buzz word” or fad meditation technique. It’s a genuinely useful practice, and almost anyone can do it, no matter their age.
Suppose you start to feel stressed throughout the day, pause. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Try to focus only on your breathing at that moment. As other thoughts start to come in, let them pass by without lingering on them.
You can teach every member of your family to do the same, and you can even point out to your children when they might need a moment to be mindful and let things go.
Accept Emotions
Understand that different members of your family will be dealing with various emotions at any given time. It’s essential to promote an environment of acceptance when it comes to those emotions.
Let your children know that it’s okay to feel sad, confused, or even frustrated because of stress or pressure. Talk things out with them, and encourage them to work out their feelings with you.
Additionally, you have to give yourself permission to accept your feelings instead of neglecting them. You can’t take care of other people in your family when you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress. Try not to ignore your emotional needs.
Focus On What You Can Control
Often, situations that are out of our control trigger mounds of stress. That has never been more true amid a pandemic. An excellent idea to cope with stress is to think about the things that are in your control daily, and focus your energy on those.
For example, you may not be able to control the fact that your child is eLearning this year. But, you can control what their day of learning looks like by setting up a specific space for them, having a schedule, and making sure they complete their work.
Get Enough Rest
Getting enough sleep can help reduce the symptoms of stress in adults and children alike. You might feel as though you’re burning the candle at both ends these days, but making sleep a priority can make it much easier to cope with stress.
If your children are learning from home, they might think they don’t need as much sleep — but that’s far from the truth. Set up a nighttime routine for them to encourage healthy sleep habits. When everyone feels well-rested, the effects of stress won’t seem as severe.
Find Help When You Need It
If feelings of stress are overwhelming you individually or as a family, you don’t have to deal with them alone. Contact us for more information on coping with stress or setting up a session that can help your entire family deal with collective stress in positive, healthy, and effective ways. Serenity EFTC provides family therapy in Colorado.