Seeking Calm and Resilience in These Stressful Times

Jamie Hurst

Guest blogger Tracey E. Lankford, senior operations associate for AARP Maryland, shares her insights on managing stress while working full time, attending graduate school and taking care of her family.

When my professor informed us that our assignment due dates would be relaxed during the coronavirus pandemic, I was perplexed. Although I was thrilled, I wondered why she chose to do this. When I asked her, she explained that during a pandemic, the worst thing you can do is have stress, because it weakens your immune system and makes you more susceptible to catching the virus and not recover from it.

I immediately researched more on the topic, and sure enough, according to Sally McLeod in her article on Stress, Illness and the Immune System, “When we're stressed, the immune system's ability to fight off antigens is reduced. That is why we are more susceptible to infections. The stress hormone corticosteroid can suppress the effectiveness of the immune system (e.g. lowers the number of lymphocytes).”

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I wondered how many other people realized this. We have known and heard health experts for years convey the importance of managing your stress, but not with particular emphasis during a global health crisis.

I then realized I was not even cognizant of my own stress levels. During this time, not only am I learning to work effectively and efficiently from a home office space, but I am also learning to work in the home where others are also working from home. This is different and can be stressful for some. Additionally, I am still a student working on my Masters of Public Administration in the evenings and on weekends. Although my professors have relaxed their deadlines, the research, papers and exams are still due.

So wearing these three different hats (wife, professional, and student), in a totally different work environment, with concerns of catching a contagious disease, and the world swirling and changing around me every minute of each day, can bring on stress and additional health risks that I was not completely aware of.

According to the Lisa Drayer of CNN Health, in addition to physical distancing, washing your hands and staying at home, you can also boost your immune system and protect your health by doing these five things:

1. Manage your Stress
2. Watch your Diet—Eat Well
3. Be Physically Active—Find Time for Fitness
4. Meditate
5. Get Plenty of Sleep

I plan to ensure I am doing these things every single day while working through these challenging times. With these five action items, along with prayer, we will all come through this on the other side, with resilience and new life skills as well.

References:

• Drayer, L. (2020). How to Strengthen Your Immunity during the Coronavirus Pandemic: Exercise, Meditation, Sleep and Stress Management. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/26/health/immunity-exercise-sleep-meditation-stress-coronavirus-drayer-wellness/index.html
• McLeod, S. (2010). Stress, Illness and the Immune System. Simply Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/stress-immune.html