Caring for Self and Community in the Time of COVID-19

Writer: Siena Iwasaki Milbauer

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a part of our lives for almost a year. The last months have felt like centuries. We’re all physically and emotionally exhausted. And while there is hope in the form of imminent vaccines, this winter is shaping up to be a tough one. Over the next months, what steps can we take to care for ourselves and our communities?

The first step in attaining community health is attaining self health. Self care is physical, like eating well, sleeping enough, and getting regular exercise. It is also mental. Having time to rest and recharge isn’t a privilege, it’s a right.

Self care can mean very different things to different people. Each of us carries many identities and these can affect the specific ways the pandemic is hitting us. For instance, our Asian American community has experienced a huge uptick in anti-Asian bias over the past year. We owe it to ourselves to recognize the mental toll this rise in prejudice has taken, on top of the stress of simply existing during COVID-19.

Good self care practices aren’t static. What worked in the spring a few weeks into social distancing measures may not be effective months later. Listen to yourself. You know what you need to stay healthy. Advocate for yourself and never be ashamed to ask for help. You are worth it.

Some of our AAOP community, gathered virtually!

The second step in creating a healthy community is community care. But how can you connect with and take care of your community when you can’t be physically near your community members?

If you are able, there are many ways to provide financial support to your community from afar. Support your favorite local businesses and restaurants by purchasing gift cards or ordering takeout. Have some extra pocket change because you haven’t been out with your friends in literally forever? Re-route that money to organizations serving your community, or directly to folks through mutual aid.

A way you can support your community that doesn’t cost a penny is by simply being friendly. Practice your eye-smile! Even if we can’t get close to each other, a wave and a few kind words of greeting can go a long way.

Just as you can support your community, your community can support you. Many community-based organizations, AAOP included, are committed to providing aid and creating virtual social opportunities for folks. We are here for you.

Of course, the greatest way we are all practicing community care is by staying safe. Social distancing might make us feel, well, distant, but it is keeping our communities healthy. Truly, we are all engaging in one big, collective act of community care. 2020 has been really hard and 2021 probably won’t be a walk in the park. But together, even if we’re apart, we can do this.

Sources:

Austin, Tirza, “Connecting in “Real-Time” with Your Community During COVID-19”, Community by Association, 21 Jun. 2020. https://communitybyassociation.com/2020/06/21/connecting-in-real-time-with-your-community-during-covid-19/. Accessed 1 Dec. 2020.

Berinato, Scott, “That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief”, Harvard Business Review, 23 Mar. 2020. https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief. Accessed 30 Nov. 2020. 

Cohen, Jon, “‘Incredible milestone for science.’ Pfizer and BioNTech update their promising COVID-19 vaccine result”, Science, 18 Nov. 2020. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/11/covid-19-vaccine-trial-complete-pfizer-and-biontech-update-their-promising-result. Accessed 7 Dec. 2020. 

Galvin, Gaby, “Asian Americans Are Less Likely Than Public Overall to Know Someone With COVID-19. Their Mental Health Has Suffered Just the Same”, Morning Consult, 23 Nov. 2020. https://morningconsult.com/2020/11/23/asian-americans-covid-19-impact-polling/. Accessed 30 Nov. 2020.

Marcus, Julia, “How to socialize in a pandemic”, Harvard Health Publishing, 5 Jun. 2020. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-socialize-in-a-pandemic-2020060519996. Accessed 30 Nov. 2020.

Minnesota Department of Health, “Tips for Taking Care of Yourself During the COVID-19 Pandemic”, Minnesota Department of Health, 2020. https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/hcp/mhtips.html. Accessed 30 Nov. 2020.

Nabayan, Jaida, “8 Ways You Can Help Your Community Amid the COVID-19 Crisis”, Earth Justice, 8 Apr. 2020. https://earthjustice.org/blog/2020-april/8-ways-you-can-help-your-community-amid-the-covid-19-crisis. Accessed 1 Dec. 2020.

NAMI California, “Ways to Stay Connected During the COVID-19 Crisis”, NAMI California, 2020. https://namica.org/blog/ways-to-stay-connected-during-the-covid-19-crisis/. Accessed 1 Dec. 2020.

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases, “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Coping with Stress”, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 Jul. 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html. Accessed 30 Nov. 2020. 

Premier Health Now, “Rethink Your Self-Care Routine As Pandemic Lingers”, Premier Health, 20 Aug. 2020. https://www.premierhealth.com/your-health/articles/healthnow/rethink-your-self-care-routine-as-pandemic-lingers. Accessed 30 Nov. 2020. 

Reichert, Sarah, “Self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic”, Mayo Clinic Health System, 7 Apr. 2020. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/self-care-tips-during-the-covid-19-pandemic. Accessed 30 Nov. 2020. 

Washington State University. “Discrimination increases against Asian and Asian American population, affecting health.”, ScienceDaily, 2 Nov. 2020. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201102155412.htm. Accessed 30 Nov. 2020.

Caring for Self and Community in the Time of COVID-19
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