In This Time of Crisis, Here's How to Find Your Rhythm

We are surrounded by uncertainty. We don't know what is going to happen next. We may feel unsettled and somewhat paralyzed by the chaos around us. It’s time to take control. It’s time to change your situation for the better – and maybe help a few other people too.

Right now, there is chaos, but with each passing day, we are going to settle into a new normal. It won't be normal we were used to before, but we will get into a new rhythm, a new lifestyle.

We do this every day of our life, especially as entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs; we adjust, we find jugaad, we deal with chaos. This current change is very big, but years of learning to manage change will help us get through. We are resilient. Everything is changing, but a new normal will eventually arise.

Finding a New Rhythm

If you are hearing conflicting versions of what is going on, it is simply because this has happened so quickly that there is no clear prognosis yet. It will take time. Give it time.

I think the key question here is, how quickly can we adapt to the present situation? How can we get into a rhythm for now? What can we do to work toward establishing a new rhythm for ourselves? In my experience, rhythm has to work at three levels.

Getting Yourself Into a Rhythm

It is only natural to worry about our health and the health of those we care about. However, if we take the worry to an extreme, it may affect us adversely. Some people may have difficulty sleeping. Their existing ailments may get worse. This is natural and expected. Some of us may look to sleeping pills, cigarettes or alcohol to manage this anxiety, but there are healthier ways. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you:

• Take breaks from watching, reading or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.

• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals; exercise regularly; get plenty of sleep; and avoid alcohol and drugs.

• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.

• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

Slowly you will start to find your new rhythm.

Getting Others Into a Rhythm

Some of us are more resilient than others. When we see someone who is struggling to deal with the situation, our first reaction might be, “Why are you behaving like this? Get your act together.”

While this is understandable since we are all struggling right now, try to put yourself in other people’s shoes. Maybe they are not as experienced at dealing with uncertainty and change as you are. Maybe the tightly-woven rug of security has just been pulled out from under their feet. So, if you can, help others and guide them. When you guide them, you will also get the strength to guide yourself.

I remember the 1971 war in my country. I lived in a small township at the time. There was a complete curfew, no lights were allowed and all windows were covered with newspaper, so the aircraft would not drop bombs on the town. What I remember most about those days is people sharing food, grandparents sharing stories and everyone playing games together in the night.

During the day, kids studied in groups and fathers would go to the factory to make the steel required to feed the war machinery. All of this was our way of keeping things normal, helping each other. There were no counselors in those days, most problems were solved with a hug and an offer of food.

If others around you are not in rhythm, how will you be? So, if you can, step in and help them get into a rhythm, too.

Getting the World Into a Rhythm

With all that is going on, it is easy to get overwhelmed. There are many aspects we cannot control. There are larger forces — larger players — taking care of that. Now is the time to remember our sphere of influence. What changes are in our power to make? How can we use them to serve the greater good?

What can you do? You can help in some way. We are all here for a purpose. We have an important role to play. If you stay focused on being productive, many things can happen. Normalcy will return more quickly, your mind will be occupied with something useful and you will make a meaningful contribution.

Many people are now working from home for the first time. If you have never done that before, you may experience some teething problems. The internet might be slow, VPN may be slow, there may be interruptions from others in the house. We can handle this two ways. We can moan and complain or we can get creative and find solutions. We are resilient. We can make this work. We can do our part.

Do what you can. There are people giving free coaching. There are people serving tea to the guards securing our residences. There are artists performing free online concerts to help people relax. What can you do? How can you use your skills and talents to help?

What We Should Avoid

Some of us have gotten so used to the chaos that we have developed a “I don’t care” attitude. That is dangerous and something we need to change. Some people may say, “Everything is chaotic, so I will simply give up.” That’s not going to help. In a couple of weeks, in a month, how will you feel if you handled this time badly and wasted it? If you don’t have a laptop and cannot work, learn something new using your phone. Go on Coursera, or help someone else learn something new. Be useful; don’t waste this time. Find your rhythm.

This article was first published on Forbes.