Working Remotely During the Coronavirus Outbreak? Shift Your Mindset

Posted in: Health + Wellness
Working Remotely During the Coronavirus Outbreak? Shift Your Mindset

By: Erica Quam, Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor and Superfeet Wellness Panel Member.  Erica Quam has taught yoga to athletes and active individuals for more than 11 years and is co-owner of Prime Sports Institute. Erica first began teaching to her athletes during her 15-year career as a college swim coach. She believes yoga can help prevent injuries and reduce stress, while building strength, flexibility and confidence. 


Your mindset plays a powerful role in how stressed you feel and how well you're able to cope.

Uncertainty causes stress

From a neurological standpoint, your brain likes stories that have a beginning, a middle, and an end.  Because there is no clear end-point your thoughts tend to "think themselves" and fill in the blanks.

You Are Not Your Thoughts

When you notice unproductive thoughts swirling around in your head — any thoughts like resentment, judgement, blame, or criticism — try doing a brain dump.  

Mindfulness During Coronavirus

Take out a blank sheet of paper.  Write your thoughts down.  Get them out of your head and onto paper.

Your brain is not a storage device.  It's a solution finder.  Clear your head regularly and you may find you are able to get back to more productive thinking.

Your Feelings Are Important

Be aware of how you're feeling. Allow emotions to happen.  

It's less about making your fears or worries go away. It's more about being present and staying in your body when emotions come up rather than allowing your thoughts to take over.

Breathing Helps

Breathing is a key place to start.  It can be as simple as taking three deep breaths.  Or you could try a more structured breathing exercise like box breathing.  Inhale for a count of 3, hold for a count of 3, exhale for a count of 3, and hold for a count of 3.  

Check back in after two to three minutes to see how you're feeling.

You may not be able to have everything figured out right now.  

See if by becoming more aware of your thoughts and feelings you can begin to slowly shift your mindset so you can be more clear and productive in the work you do.

 
April 20, 2020