Staying Calm and Creative During Unsettling Times

We are living in troubling times: the Corona virus pandemic, panic buying, sheltering in place, and the unknown economic fallout. All this chaos and uncertainty can be terrifying and unsettling. When we operate in fear mode, creativity goes out the window and we tend to not make the best decisions. Getting caught up in the panic, heightened news reports and obsessively checking social media does not help us creatively solve problems.

The best way to deal with a crisis is to remain as calm as possible so you have your creative resources available to solve challenging problems. This is the time to put your creativity to good use. Be creative in how you entertain yourself and your family, how you repurpose everyday items to fill in for something that you can’t buy right now, how to helping those in need, and how you socially engage while social distancing. If you are at a loss here, check out YouTube and social media for helpful ideas.

Ingenuity and scrappy creative thinking are what made America great in the past. We have the chance to channel our creativity for the common good, to weather this health and economic crisis, and come out on the other side stronger than before.

So how does one stay calm during times like this? Breathe. Take a deep breath or two. Do things that ground and calm you, like talk to a close friend or family member, meditation, journal, listen to soothing or inspiring music, go for walks in nature, or garden.

On the other side of the coin, limit your intake of news and social media to a couple times each day. It is good to be informed given the circumstances, but do you have to check the news or posts every 10 minutes?

If you focus on the negative stories and posts out there, it will only add to your anxiety and keep you in an unsettled (uncreative) place. Look for positive stories of people being their best during these times and look for ways you can be of service to others less fortunate.

Lastly, more than ever this is the time to develop and maintain a daily routine which includes doing something creative.  It can be singing, dancing, learning a new language, playing an instrument, doodling, drawing, writing a poem, sewing, cooking, or storytelling. This is important because when your mind and body is engaged in the creative process you are exercising your creative muscle and keeping it fit for when you need to solve a challenging problem. It prepares you to better handle unexpected situations like the one we are in.

Stay home (if you can), stay calm and stay creative.