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Moving on from case numbers.
With the recent Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading throughout the world, it can have a massive impact on our mental health, and we may not be realising it at the time. The constant updates, press conferences, infection numbers can occupy much of our free time and thoughts. Additionally, if you’re living in Western Australia, we’ve been relatively COVID free for most of the pandemic, making the current Omicron outbreak much harder to deal with. I call it the Perth Pandemic Privilege, and as much as it’s helped us continue most activities normally, it’s going to be quite an adjustment to this new normal.
With that in mind, I wanted to create a quick little guide to help you safely mentally detatch yourself from the news cycle, press conferences and case numbers while continuing to be COVID safe. A few of the things mentioned in this guide will be for Western Australia, however these tips will work for anyone wherever they are.
- Keep Safe and Check-In: Firstly, keep up the routines that were first in place at the start of the pandemic. Socially distance, wash your hands, wear a mask and use your region’s check in system. In WA we use the ServicesWA app (formerly SafeWA), the more we check in with this app, the less we need to worry as this will allow contact tracers to contact us if we have been in the vicinity of someone who has been infectious. It will be easier if we keep these steps up to disconnect from the barrage of information.
- Check Exposure Sites When Needed: If we’re checking in, this step will be less important, but still may be required if we’ve forgotten to checkin. Your region may not be doing exposure site lists, and that’s ok. For people in WA, we’re currently still listing exposure sites, and although it may be tempting to constantly refresh, it can be damaging mentally to fixate on it. Check it regularly, but not constantly, remember it’s about keeping safe while protecting yourself mentally.
- Ignore Case Numbers, Comments and Discussions: The key is to keep safe, as long as you’re following the restriction requirements, case numbers are an anecdotal statistic, but not something we’re required to know. It’s a daily routine to seek out these numbers, or have them sitting in our phone’s notification bar. Detach from these notifications, disable them if you can. Additionally, avoid online comments and discussions about cases, case numbers, etc. Much of these discussions aren’t productive and do little to inform us of the practical things we need to know.
- Be kind, While Assertive: If you need to disconnect from the situation, that is completely ok. We all need to deal with this in our own way, and as long as you keep safe that’s all that matters. Be kind to yourself and others. It’s important to understand how much COVID has inserted itself into our daily lives, especially conversations with colleagues, friends and/or family. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, let them know that you’d rather discuss something else, they may not realise it because these types of topics have become so normal now. Additionally, if someone close to you says they no longer wish to discuss COVID, please respect that.
- Keep In Touch: Keep in touch with those you care about during this time, let them know how you’re doing, especially if you’re struggling. Also touch base with them to see how they’re coping. They might be feeling the same emotions and it can often be helpful to share them with each other. Keep up with safe interactions with those you care about, be it in person or online.
- Isolation Doesn’t Mean Socially Isolate: If you have to go into isolation, please remember this doesn’t mean you’re cut off from everything. In the last two years online services have adapted so we can do a lot more together virtually. Games, video conferencing, movies and streaming services have the ability to be done together online, many of them for free.
- Have A Plan: This is optional, some of us can rest easier if we have a plans in place if you get sick. It shouldn’t be something to obsess over, but a practical plan to put your mind at ease. This might be setting up an arrangement with friends and family to help you with shopping and drop it off at your door, or getting them to look after your pets. Simple actions to take the pressure off.
- Crisis Services: Crisis services are still, and are likely to continue. If you need to access them, please do so.
Keep safe, and most importantly look after yourself.
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