By: Thomas G. Bognanno, President and CEO for CHC;
How to Adjust to the “New Normal” While Maintaining Your Mental and Physical Health
– Over the past three months we have heard repeatedly, from every conceivable direction, that the times we are living in are “unprecedented” and “uncertain”. If I could, I would retire both words from our vernacular or at least embargo them for the foreseeable future.
Now, as the shock waves still reverberate and the old normal is fast becoming the new normal, we must survey the landscape, assess the damage, and begin emerging from the bunkers to build what that new normal will look like. The reality is that many of us will be doing pretty much the same as we did before this situation – but just doing it differently.
It will not surprise anyone to know that seven in ten Americans (72%) say their lives have been disrupted “a lot” or “some” by the coronavirus outbreak. The changes to your daily routine, along with the 24/7 onslaught of coronavirus news has drastically increased the stress in our lives. A survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 45 percent of Americans feel the coronavirus crisis is harming their mental health.
In a recent Fortune Op-Ed, LeanIn.org co-founders Sheryl Sandberg and Rachel Thomas suggest that many women are working the equivalent of two full time jobs (what they deem a “double double shift”), spending 71 hours every week on housework and caregiving, including the new responsibilities of these challenging times. Meanwhile, men in the same situation are doing 20 fewer hours of labor every week.
Even though many states are taking steps to reopen businesses and communities, it will take some time for life to return to the “normal” we knew pre-COVID-19. For some, mainly those who are more at-risk and need to maintain social distancing, there will still be the hidden risk of social isolation, even as states move through reopening phases. For those returning to work, it will still be important to follow health guidelines, while also taking steps to maintain your mental and physical health.
If you find yourself obsessing over the news or wrestling with anxiety and stress caused by recent changes, here are some tools available to help:
Read the full story on Thrive Global.
Thomas G. Bognanno, President and CEO for CHC
Thomas G. Bognanno has been the President and CEO of Community Health Charities since January 2006. Prior to that, Tom had a distinguished 20-year career with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), where he served as the Chief Field Officer. He was instrumental in revitalizing ADA’s community-level infrastructure and acting as one of the chief architects of the Everyday Choices for a Healthier Life partnership between ADA, the American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society. Before ADA, Tom spent six years with the American Cancer Society.
At Community Health Charities, Tom has been a catalyst for consolidating the organization and creating a new direction for its more than 2,000 charity partners nationwide and its network of over 17 million caring employees. Under Tom’s leadership, Community Health Charities evolved its mission to empower people to take action to improve health and wellbeing to build stronger, healthier communities. Community Health Charities supports education, treatment, and prevention for those with health challenges; brings organizations together to improve community health; provides individuals with opportunities to get involved; and increases the capacity of nonprofit organizations.
Residing in northern Virginia, Tom and his wife Suzan have been married for over 35 years and have raised three children.
