Adopt a Growth Mindset (COVID-19)
Lessons to be learned COVID-19.
Our daily lives have been disrupted.
As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread and information and knowledge evolves, we will be impacted continuously by change, disruption and constraints. The way we work, socialize, shop, communicate – pretty much everything we do has been turned upside down.
This could be the worst disaster that we have ever experienced. We are all being forced to change our daily lives. Many of us are living with fear, anxiety and a loss of control.
But It doesn’t have to be that way.
The thing about disruption and COVID-19 is that we have a choice going forward on how we reshape our energy and use our time. Collectively we have a choice to adopt a growth mindset and use the constraint that we are experiencing to make ourselves better.
Rather than think of the constraints like social distancing or an unknown future as a limiting factor, I believe it can provide an opportunity to reshape a new empowered culture of compassion, collaboration and healthcare.
Here’s an example.
Many people will work from home in the new “shut-in economy” as a measure of social distancing. They will save themselves ~ an hour or more each of day travel time.
Time is a gift.
Collectively if everyone uses that “extra time and gift” to adopt new health wise habits like exercising, moving a bit more, preparing nutritious healthy meals or practising breathing/meditation – it will have the immediate effect of reducing stress. Given the level of fear and anxiety many are experiencing this would be good for mental health and coping.
Collectively if we use the duration of the constraint (New York Times has reported a possible 18 months to ride this thing out, i.e. HHS report for the pandemic), as a motivation to create long-term positive health habits – we can change health care from the current “break-fix reactive” model to a better “prevention-based empowerment” model.
Getting Back Control. Shift Mindset.
Shifting mindset to improve our personal behaviours does not mean COVID-19 is a good thing. People have already lost their lives and many more will. We appreciate very much the front line health care workers who are putting their own lives at risk to help those infected and in need of life saving care.
The losses and hardships will be real. We can’t minimize the difficulty ahead for you, your family or community.
But going through this together can help us recognize a deeper appreciation for life and for each other as well a revived sense of clarity on the ways we want to live our lives with more purpose.
Stay or Get Active. Improve Your Nutrition and Sleep Habits.
It's a good way to reduce stress and build up your immune system.
Simple, incremental lifestyle changes are all it takes: eating better, moving more, reducing stress and embracing a sense of “new” connectedness. Wellness is the state of the best possible physical, social and spiritual health. If we can keep these integrated and balanced, our mental health will take care of itself naturally.
Plus, if we keep ourselves healthy now, we can help reduce strain on health care systems now. Simply put, reduce your own “sick-care footprint” so you can help free up health care resources for people who really need it if COVID–19 comes knocking at their door and poses a threat to their life.
Collectively if we keep practising new positive health habits well into the future, we can help prevent chronic disease in the future. This can be a big win for all of us.
Healthcare or “Reaction Fix-Care” systems across North America were stressed out even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Chronic disease contributes to over 68% of health care costs and avoidable stress to the system.
Let’s not guess what the future might look like. Now is the time to turn this disruption into something positive.
Consider COVID-19 as a warning call in disguise for all of us to collectively change our behaviours and shift the culture of HealthCare to a more proactive, value based sustainable model.
Let’s not slack off and wait for the pandemic to end before we take positive steps for the future. Our main focus should be on fighting this current crisis – but let’s not just look at what’s right in front of us. Let’s plan for something worse that is yet to come so we can act from a position of resilience and not fear.
It’s the least we could do to compliment the important clinical behaviours we’re taking to flatten the curve and protect others, as well as the unparalleled economic solutions our governments and businesses are investing in to help get us through.
They are betting on us, the human race to win.
Let’s not wait to see if we get stronger by surviving this global crisis. Rather let’s agree that the strength that we will get will come from how well we work together* – to make something good, come out of something bad.
*Please practise “Social/Physical Distancing” and keep 2M distance away from people when you have an urgent need to go out in public.