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by Sherry Thompson, Prevention Specialist

As parents/caregivers, we are under a lot of stress during this coronavirus pandemic. Many of us find ourselves at home with our children and/or watching other family’s children. And, we’re trying to work from home for the first time or balance going into our places of employment as essential employees.

Anxiety levels are high and children can feed off of our emotional cues. So it is important that we take care of ourselves. Children are more at risk for abuse and neglect amid coronavirus pandemic, experts say. Risk factors for child abuse and neglect include parental stress, economic instability, and housing insecurity.

Three important questions

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. So, lets all be aware of our anxiety and stress. Be kind to ourselves and to one another.  Taking responsibility for our own self-care may seem hard.  But just ask yourself these three simple questions:

1. Am I drinking enough water?

2. Am I getting enough sleep?

3. Am I eating healthy? 

These are our daily basic needs. But, during an unprecedented pandemic we need more.

Practicing self-care everyday will help our anxiety levels to decrease. We all work very hard to be a good parent/caregiver. Let’s take time to be good to ourselves.

Helpful Tips

Let’s be productive and creative in some self-care for ourselves:

  • Stick to a daily routine.
  • Do a workout or yoga video on YouTube.
  • Take a long hot bath.
  • Take a nap.
  • Create a Vision Board.
  • Start a gratitude journal.
  • Read a book.
  • Listen to a podcast.
  • Have an indoor picnic.
  • Fix a meal with the family.
  • Do some coloring or crafts.

Greater Richmond SCAN will host a webinar on self-care for families during COVID-19 on April 9 at 1 p.m. Register online.

Other Resources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/ways-to-reduce-anxietyhttps://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-ways-relieve-stress-anxiety

http://wingspanworks.com/

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