Self-Care and COVID-19: An Invitation

We are at a critical time. The future of the world very much depends on what we do next. We — you and me.

We are standing at the beginning of a journey. If you're reading this, you're one of the ones who wants to — and will — make a difference.

I spoke this week at Singularity University's State and Future of Epidemics, about public health actions each of us can take now to respond COVID-19.

As leaders, this really is up to us.

The world and our future depend, right now, on slowing the spread of Coronavirus.

This will require new kinds of collaboration at a level we haven't yet seen in our world, but the world is ready. Still, it's not going to happen overnight.

One thing I learned from working on leadership and stress for the last ten years is, we have to figure out how to do that without sacrificing ourselves.

We need to learn how to do the work ahead of us in a way that doesn't consume us, that is not just sustainable but in fact deeply nourishing.

I know that it's possible. What it requires is self-care.

Estimates change in terms of what we are facing. What we do know is that COVID-19 will affect the entire world, it is only a matter of how slow or fast we allow the virus to spread.

In order for each of us to be present to the emerging needs around us, we require a new way of approaching self-care. 

I'm not just talking about exercise, nutrition and sleep — although those are foundational. But physical self-care is just one part of a larger, dynamic whole.

At this time we are being challenged in our families, networks, and communities to find new ways to care for each other and to connect, often at great distance.

We are navigating information overwhelm and anxiety as the landscape around us changes very quickly in ways that immediately affect our lives.

We might be feeling unwell or otherwise vulnerable, or be caring for people in our household or extended family who are.

With all the uncertainty in our systems, it is easy to feel anxious and can be hard to center. 

Without our usual support systems at work and in person, it is easy to feel isolated and alone. 

Even if we have mostly healthy coping mechanisms most of the time, in the current environment, it’s easy for the unhealthy ones to create conflict. When we fight, it’s often with the people we’re closed to, from whom we need support the most.

Self-care is necessary to keep ourselves as healthy and positive as possible during the weeks and months ahead. We’re going to need to structure this, to be strategic and honest about what we need and what kind of support we have available.

Looking at self-care in a holistic way helps us see where we could be thriving. It’s possible, I would say necessary, for a leader to have this kind of relationship with self-care.

I have a lot to share about holistic self-care for COVID-19. I want to show you specific practices, so I’m hosting an online workshop next Friday, March 27 at 4:00 pm PT (US and Canada).

I'll go into detail about holistic self-care and share practices that help us navigate stress with grace and presence.

You can sign up for my Self-Care Workshop here. It's free and I'll send out a recording in case you can't make the live class.

Everyone can learn how to do this better. All it takes is wanting to learn how.  

One more time, sign up is here.

I probably don’t have to tell you that self-care is more important now than ever.

I hope to see you there.