Tough times don’t last, tough people do…
As India fights the deadly second wave of coronavirus, it is quite difficult to remain positive. We are always surrounded by doom and gloom— filled with news of ailments and death.
But have you thought about how difficult it must be for your aging parents, grandparents or any other senior member of the family to deal and adjust with this new normal?
To deal with this, here are the top 5 ways you can adopt to help them get through this tough time:
Limit their media intake
To protect the mental health of elders it is very important to keep them away from the news stories on various platforms.
Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) released a guidance on this issue that stated: “The sudden and near-constant stream of news reports about an outbreak can cause anyone to feel worried. Minimise watching, reading or listening to news about COVID-19 that causes you to feel anxious or distressed. Seek information only from trusted sources and mainly to take practical steps to prepare your plans and protect yourself and loved one.”
Spend quality time with them
Being stuck at home until the pandemic is over isn’t necessarily a bad thing. One can spend valuable time with the family and create good memories which will help reduce anxiety and stress.
Make them say yes to exercise
The best thing for physical and mental health is to do some form of exercise. It can be stretching, yoga, meditation or simply walking indoors.
It’s the right time for a new hobby
Engaging their mind into something new will help them to pass time easily and also will reduce stress.
Involve them in daily activities
Ask them to help you in small things. This will create a bond and also help them to cope up with the negativity.
Not to forget, work on your mental health too. 🙂
Remember the quote by Paulo Coelho, “When you say ‘yes’ to others, make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself.”
We are all in this together, stay protected, stay healthy, stay safe!
