7 Tips for Habit Change in a Double Crisis
While most of us are now settling (albeit kicking and screaming) into the lockdowns as a result of this pandemic, few expected the Pacific Region to be pummeled by a Category 5 cyclone at the same time. The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu experienced its wrath, followed by Fiji and Tonga, and by then it was a category 4 but still powerful.
As the cyclone ravaged the region, constraints on the movement of citizens increased even more. In addition to lockdowns and curfews in Suva, Fiji, there was now devastation by our first ever tornado associated with a cyclone here, which did away with rooftops and created havoc. There was an order from the National Disaster Management Office to cease movements within the main island of Viti Levu.
Bombarded by a double crisis – a pandemic and a cyclone – Fijians were required to change their habits even more quickly and effectively. Fortunately, to date we have no deaths as a result of either disaster. However, many are violating guidelines, including social distancing, curfews, and more.
We launched the third conversation in our Beyond Medicine series two weeks ago, entitled “The Importance of Behavior Change,” to help create awareness around habit change in a crisis. In episode 1 we contextualized behavior change requirements in a pandemic situation. In episode 2 we provided tips on how to change our habits quickly and effectively.
While most of us are now settling (albeit kicking and screaming) into the lockdowns as a result of this pandemic, few expected the Pacific Region to be pummeled by a Category 5 cyclone at the same time. The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu experienced its wrath, followed by Fiji and Tonga, and by then it was a category 4 but still powerful.
As the cyclone ravaged the region, constraints on the movement of citizens increased even more. In addition to lockdowns and curfews in Suva, Fiji, there was now devastation by our first ever tornado associated with a cyclone here, which did away with rooftops and created havoc. There was an order from the National Disaster Management Office to cease movements within the main island of Viti Levu.
Bombarded by a double crisis – a pandemic and a cyclone – Fijians were required to change their habits even more quickly and effectively. Fortunately, to date we have no deaths as a result of either disaster. However, many are violating guidelines, including social distancing, curfews, and more.
We (Dr. Margaret Cornelius and I) launched the third conversation in our Beyond Medicine series two weeks ago, entitled “The Importance of Behavior Change,” to help create awareness around habit change in a crisis. In Episode 1 we contextualized behavior change requirements in a pandemic situation. In Episode 2 we provided tips on how to change our habits quickly and effectively. Here are some tips from this series so far:
- Understand the urgency: This is not your average situation, so the changes being asked of you aren’t average either. It’s a double crisis and we need to make big changes, now. To understand the stakes, imagine if your grandparent, child or grandchild were to die next week. Now take a look at what you’re being asked to do.
- Find your motivation: If you’re not motivated by self-love to take precautions for yourself, do it for those you love. Don’t be the one who jeopardizes the lives of your family members, be the one who protects them. This is a no-brainer, but it’s surprising how many of us break rules and endanger lives.
- Cultivate mindfulness: We must be more mindful of our actions – they matter so much. Meditation helps with this, because those who violate rules are in denial or are addicted to their usual habits of drinking after hours, for example. A contemplative practice helps us become aware of our connection with others, and the consequences of our choices. Fundamentally, meditation helps us face reality with courage to replace the denial, escapism, and panic. There’s no better time than now to go inside, pun intended.
- Reduce the strain on resources: We know there are shortages of masks and other protective equipment and we want to leave the best equipment for those who are most vulnerable and those at the front lines of helping patients. So, we can innovate and make our own masks and visors. In the process, we can leverage our skills, save money, and stay engaged in DIY projects.
- Remind and support each other: Whether we are sheltering in place with family members, housemates, or friends, we can all step up to remind each other about basic measures like washing hands, not touching our faces (this is really difficult), and keeping our distance from each other. Social support helps solidify the new habits, and we can quickly move from unfamiliarity to adeptness.
- Weigh your priorities to overcome barriers: What’s more important to you: to not feel awkward wearing a mask, or to save lives? Is it more important to appear cool and nonchalant by not sanitizing after a shopping trip, or is it more important to prevent infecting hundreds of people? What if you are asymptomatic? It’s safest to assume you are and take all the precautions you can. What is more important than life to you?
- Think long term: IF we do what is needed now, we can beat this virus sooner and get our freedoms back. Otherwise, we will be sequestered for much longer. Changing our habits as the circumstances change, is an intelligent and adaptive approach – and we have the freedom to change our behavior more than anything else in this world. Let’s do it now, and together.
As we navigate this unprecedented time of post-cyclone recovery during this novel coronavirus pandemic, we must remember to leverage what we can control in all this mayhem: our behavior, decisions, and attitudes. Let’s do the right thing and remove the obstacles in our way.
