You’d have to be living under a rock not to be aware of the huge global health issue that’s going on at the moment. It’s taking over the news and it’s a big part of daily conversations, on and off-line.

We are living in heightened times. And there's been a run of world events that have been very evoking and troublesome of late, such as Bush Fires, floods, storms, climate change, and political unrest. It feels very apocalyptic.

There’s so much fear. Daily reports show rising numbers of people affected, the impact on the economy and disturbance to travel and other plans. It’s easy to get stressed and panic about the situation. Of course it makes sense to stay up-to-date with developments, but it’s also exhausting and stress-inducing.

There’s plenty of information about minimising risk through hygiene and reducing contact as well as boosting immunity with supplements and lifestyle changes, so I won’t go into all that here.

Instead, I’d like to share some suggestions on how you can protect your energy and find peace despite it being a fractious time. Instead of allowing fear and anxiety to escalate, you can get creative about finding greater mental and physical health right now. I’m a highly sensitive person and it is really important to protect my energy. The stress response is not meant to be permanently activated, so it’s important not to stay in a state of panic. 

In osteopathy, there’s a concept that I frequently return to called ‘finding health’. If I’m treating someone and they have a number of symptoms going on, I look for the health in their tissues and seek to expand that sense of health. What you think about, grows, so it makes sense to be really intentional. Worry zaps your energy and it’s forward- focussed, so it stops you from being present. I don’t subscribe to the ‘keep calm and carry on’ mode, as it denies the valid feelings of fear and dread. Instead, I suggest finding ways of noticing what’s going on in your own mind and body and finding ways to release anything that makes you feel unsettled or unnerved. 

• Start the day on the right note. Connect with your higher self through breathing, meditation, prayer or just quiet. Make the most of the light finally returning if you’re in the northern hemisphere.

• Reduce how much stimulation you’re getting. Cull your news feeds - you can switch them off on your phone, block access to tabloid papers on your laptop and restrict yourself from checking updates too frequently. . Headlines tend to be alarming to encourage you to click through, so stop scrolling and be discerning about your sources of information. 

• I harp on about it, but gratitude is something to cultivate. It’s neither high nor low, but balanced. It’s a state where the heart is open and trusting. Either write down or share 3 things you’re grateful for each morning and evening, so you can be on an even keel.

• Get grounded. Walk in nature or sit or lie on the ground to allow your nervous system to discharge excess energy. Some of my clients have named one of my exercises ‘floor doctor’, which I’ve pinched. Floor doctor is great when it’s all getting too much. Just lie down and lengthen your spine and allow your breathing to get slower and deeper. You’ll feel better after even a couple of minutes.

• Find everyday joy and beauty. On my walk to work this morning I saw some of my favourite sights of spring such as magnolia and snowdrops. 

• One thing that I’m noticing is that the situation is calling us to simplify. By being encouraged to stay at home and restrict social contact, you can choose to rest more, have space for yourself and to take care of your health. I’m curious to see if there are any longer term changes, such as more companies allowing working from home, or shelving unnecessary travel.

• There’s a spiritual law that we are one, and it’s echoed by the precious hormone and neurotransmitter called oxytocin, important for love, trust and connection. Human beings are meant to be connected. It’s one thing to isolate ourselves to prevent the spread of disease, but we are one. No man is an island. Let’s not leave one another out as we try to protect ourselves. Oxytocin reduces the stress response, so raise your oxytocin levels by doing anything that connects you to yourself and others.

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