During times of crisis, it can be easy to get swept up in the panic and mayhem. However, doing so can significantly impact your overall well-being and prevent you from focusing on the most important aspects of your health.
Whether it’s at home, work, or in public, figuring out the right safety measures to take is essential. And, the sooner you start taking steps to protect yourself, both physically and mentally, the better off you will be.
To help you remain safe and healthy during a crisis, we’ve put together a list of some of the essential to-dos. While right now, the most prominent crisis for most people is the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these tips can be applied to other crises including natural disasters, homelessness, and future outbreaks.
Sanitize Properly
If the crisis is related to a virus or other circumstances that put you at a high-risk of infection or illness, sanitization should be high on your priority list.
- Buy hand sanitizer bulk to help keep your hands clean
- Purchase household cleaners that will keep your living spaces free of contamination
- Use single-use protective gear if you’re going to be exposed to harmful particles
Keeping yourself and your space clean and germ-free is essential to maintaining your health.
Have Your Essentials in Order
Whether it’s a go-bag for an emergency or gathering the necessary supplies for your home, having the essentials in order will make it easier to respond in a crisis. Here are some essentials you may want to consider depending on the type of crisis you’re experiencing:
- In-home water and food supply
- Flashlights, candles, and batteries
- Medical paperwork and identity documentation
- Prescriptions (at least one month’s worth)
- Emergency contact information
- Meet-up plans in case of emergency
You can benefit from organization so that if something happens, you’ll have everything you need and won’t have to figure it out in the moment when you might not be thinking as clearly.
Don’t Overdo the News
It can be easy to get overwhelmed by all of the information and updates provided by the news, especially with the rapid spread of information (and misinformation) across the web. While it’s important to stay up to date on what’s going on during a crisis, a constant feed of news can have an impact on your well-being.
During a crisis, try to limit your news intake to protect your mental health. Set specific times of day to check in on the news to avoid constant refreshing. This is especially important because rapid-fire updates can often be premature, reporting false information.
Maintain Healthy Habits
When you become more stressed and there’s an interruption in your usual daily life, it can become easy to stray for good habits you’ve developed. However, doing so can risk your overall health.
As you know, maintaining a well-balanced diet, staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep every night are essential to staying healthy. But did you know these habits also help keep your immune system in top working order? It’s true, that’s why you need to:
- Make sure you get seven to nine hours of sleep each night
- Eat plenty of leafy greens and fruits
- Drink at least eight glasses of water a day (drinking a half or full ounce of water per pound of your body weight is a more accurate way to ensure you’re drinking enough water)
- Exercise regularly (even if you’re restricted to indoors, there are virtually limitless workouts you can try at home)
While they might be your go-to coping mechanism during uncertain times, you should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
Prioritize Your Mental Health
It can be easy to become more stressed or feel isolated during a crisis. And, if you already suffer from a mental health disorder, it can become worse during these times. That’s why it’s important to prioritize your mental health in addition to staying physically healthy. Some ways you can do that include:
- Maintaining normalcy in your routine however you can
- Make time for self-care each day
- Disconnecting from social media
- Reaching out to friends when you’re in need
- Engage in activities that relieve stress
And don’t forget, there are plenty of free and easily accessible mental health resources, even during times of crisis.
These tips are a good starting point for taking care of yourself and your family during a crisis, but make sure to consider your unique circumstances when choosing the best course of action.
