As we know, there is a lot of stuff happening in the world right now. The first case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was confirmed in Idaho on Friday and the number is climbing. Along with coronavirus invading our state, the nation has gone under a national emergency as well as Moscow. The University of Idaho also decided to go online indefinitely for the semester. There has been a lot of abrupt changes that will affect events, classes and even our spring break plans.
The coronavirus is on every channel, in every newspaper and on every app. There is an advertisement for washing hands to help prevent spreading coronavirus everywhere we look. For those who read The Argonaut regularly, breaking news and coronavirus updates plaster the homepage.
Even in our day to day conversations, coronavirus is still a very present topic of concern. We can’t seem to escape it — coronavirus talk is everywhere.
As we see more and more about coronavirus, it can be hard to stay calm and live our lives regularly.
It is important to be concerned but not panic. Panicking does nothing but cause extra stress and fear we don’t need.
Being informed and staying current with the news is important but so is creating a safe environment. We need to know our limits and set boundaries with how much news we can handle. Creating a safe distance from the media should be as significant as reading it.
It is important to stay informed but not be consumed by the news. As always, being informed about the world is major. We get the concern the world may leave us behind, but it’s always changing and especially with an outbreak, information can just fly past us fast.
Make sure to check the news every so often, but don’t worship it. Creating distance is crucial for mental health and clear thinking.
Be mindful of coronavirus and check in with yourself. Practice mindful thinking and notice things around that are not the virus. This could be as simple as taking a walk and noticing nature around or as complex as being introspective and recognizing loved ones. There is a world outside of the virus and taking a break can make a great difference in stress levels. Thoughts, worries and concerns are all valid, this is a scary time.
There is no way to fully escape coronavirus talk unless fully disconnecting with the world. For some, this can be hard or impossible to achieve.
But, make sure to be concerned about mental health as much as the news. Our functioning is as important as coronavirus updates — so take care of yourself.
Stay safe and informed Vandals!
The Argonaut will continue to update as more information becomes available. For more COVID-19 coverage visit our website.
Emily Pearce can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Emily_A_Pearce