今早為本科生《時文閱讀》教學選擇材料瀏覽新聞的時候，在下面連結看到此文，特此分享，希望不只是對大家應對新冠疫情期間的焦慮有用，而且對大家尋找和閱讀原汁原味的英文材料提供參考。
https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2020/04/suffering-covid-19-anxiety-here-s-what-you-can-do
我們應對的辦法是儘可能多帶孩子到戶外安全的地方享受大自然的饋贈！
Suffering from COVID-19 anxiety?Here’s what you can do
By JenniferKong, Steven Chan Apr. 23, 2020 , 2:00 PM
Jennifer—apostdoc—had been working from home for 4 weeks. Anxious about the COVID-19pandemic, she was having trouble focusing on her research. She knew her mentalhealth had deteriorated and that she needed advice to stay motivated. So shereached out to Steven, a friend who also happens to be a practicingpsychiatrist. He didn’t solve all of Jennifer’s problems. But he did provide anew lens to view them through—as well as concrete steps she could take toimprove her mental health. Our conversation has been edited for clarity andbrevity.
Last week’s Working Life
Working Life isa personal essay series about career issues, challenges, and successes.
·
To appreciate my role as a scientist, I had to stepoutside academia
Read more Working Life
JENNIFER: In academia, weare often encouraged to suck it up when problems arise. I am currently writingtwo papers. I know others who are writing grants. Should we expect to use this「time away from the lab」 to be superproductive?
STEVEN: Working in aCOVID-19 world is not normal. You shouldn’t dwell on guilt if you’re notfunctioning at maximum productivity levels. You need time to process the grief thatcomes with the loss of your former work life and social life.
J: I occasionallyfind myself spiraling down a hole of despair, spending hours reading about allthe terrible things happening in the world. The news makes me feel sad andhelpless, which in turn zaps all the motivation out of my day. What should Ido?
S: In thesespirals, it is important to recognize that there’s a lot happening right nowthat you can’t control. Even though it is incredibly hard, shift your attentionto things you can control. For example, you cannot control the number of peoplewho are dying from COVID-19. But you can do your part to maintain socialdistancing.
J: I am worriedabout members of my family getting sick. I’m also worried about my future inacademia because many universities are instituting hiring freezes. How can Iget rid of all this worry?
S: Trycompartmentalizing the worry into a time block. Spend 20 minutes each daywriting down and acknowledging your feelings. Then, think about reasonablesolutions. For example, you could brainstorm how you could secure funding toextend your postdoc, which would give you more time to publish papers and applyfor academic jobs next year. You could also learn about jobs that mightinterest you in other sectors, such as industry.
J: Sometimes Iwake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep. I’m physicallytired, but my brain is restless. I end up just lying there, thinking andworrying about everything that’s going on. Is this anxiety?
S: It could be.Anxiety is a persistent feeling of worry. Sometimes it is constant, while othertimes it rushes over you all at once. When dealing with anxiety, it’s importantto assess your emotions and talk about what you’re going through with trustedfriends and family. You should also practice activities that are restorativeand relaxing, especially before bedtime. Listen to music, take a hot shower,read a book, or do something else that you enjoy.
When dealing with anxiety, it’simportant to … practice activities that are restorative.
J: These past fewweeks have been difficult for so many people, and I fear it』ll get worse.However, I have also been inspired by good things that people are doing. Forexample, students, postdocs, and faculty members at our university have donatedthousands of dollars to support our furloughed food service workers. It fillsme with some confidence that we will overcomethis.
S: That’s great.These are trying times, but they』ll be easier if we do what we can to supportone another. A key strategy for combating sadness, stress, and anxiety is toexpress gratitude for what you do have. Keep that up.
Do you have aninteresting career story? Send it to SciCareerEditor@aaas.org. Readthe general guidelines here.
Posted in:
· Coronavirus
· Working Life
· Non-disciplinary
doi:10.1126/science.caredit.abc4052
JenniferKong
Jennifer Kong is apostdoc at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
Steven Chan
Steven Chan is aclinical assistant professor at Stanford University. He is also a medicaldirector for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Palo Alto, California.
https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2020/04/suffering-covid-19-anxiety-here-s-what-you-can-do