By: Dr Sheila Marie G. Hocson, RGC, RPsy
FEU Manila and Makati Guidance & Counseling Office
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented phenomenon that most of us never imagined that it could happen especially to us Tams. Our situation is constantly changing and we are presented with a new set of surprises and concerns in different areas of our lives. The said situation affects us, our family, work, and our tams community. It also affects our psychological well-being which is compose of our mental, emotional, physical, social and spiritual aspects of lives.
Mental and physical concerns occur over the course of one’s life especially when we are faced with a lot of stressors. In this times of uncertainty, isolation and fear, let’s be mindful that we can overcome this together as an FEU community by starting it from ourselves and sharing it in our schools and community through the following practical steps to maintain healthy psychological well-being: .
1. Develop a growth mindset that is being open to challenges, criticisms and success of others and exerting a lot of efforts.
2. Have the neuroscience of empathy, compassion, and kindness.
3. Back up yourself with FEU core values and character strengths of bravery, fortitude, excellence, uprightness, gratitude, humility, simplicity, patience, and trancendence.
4. Add more psychological capital of optimism, hope, self-efficacy, and resiliency.
5. Establish healthy hobbies, interests and lifestyles that will give you pleasure and peace and learn new things.
6. Use online platforms in moderation and avoid spreading fake news.
7. Have quality connections with your God, loved ones, mentors, counselors, doctors, and pets.
8. Anchor to your true north that will provide meaning in your life.
9. Have a clear short and long term goals.
10. Enhance your ability to know your limits and make the right choices for a responsible decision making.
11. Educate yourself about mental health and make your pragmatic coping mechanisms and well-being plans.
12. Contribute by being a great Tam example and well-being advocate online and offline.
We greatly hope that these practical tips will help you to maintain healthy psychological well-being for a braver life that is free from worries, mental health concerns and other sickness most especially in this trying times.
Keep safe, be calm and have a braver life, Tams.
Many thanks.