How to Stay Calm During the Coronavirus Crisis

Right now, you can't browse the internet, watch TV, or even have a conversation with friends or coworkers without hearing about COVID-19. Coronavirus seems to be all we can think and talk about. Public messages take all kinds of forms—informed logic, panicked alarm, stubborn denial, and even outright wacky speculation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially designated the novel coronavirus as a pandemic. (Check out Grammar Girl's article, "Pandemic vs. Epidemic," for more about what those words mean.) It can be hard to stay calm and carry on when your safety (and that of your loved ones) is potentially at risk, daily life is disrupted, and uncertainty rules the day.

The reality is, we're all in the midst of a crisis, and it's hard to say when things will get better. That uncertainty may mean a lot of worries are suddenly competing for your attention. As you ride out the disruptions to your way of life, these tips will help you keep calm and cope.

1. Limit your news consumption to one or two trustworthy official sources

It seems the more you hear about COVID-19, the more conflicting information you uncover. The virtual landscape and social media are filled with unreliable information sources, rumors, speculation, and even downright harmful "advice." (No, you can't cure or prevent coronavirus by drinking bleach or snorting cocaine!)

Even if you don't take bad advice, obsessively following the news and spending a lot of time dwelling on coronavirus isn't helpful.

Consuming content like this from bad sources can lead you down an unhelpful path. Even if you don't take bad advice, obsessively following the news and spending a lot of time dwelling on coronavirus isn't helpful. In fact, that loop playing on repeat in your head can sink you into thinking traps that exaggerate the risk. Your obsession with all things coronavirus could take you away from meaningful activities, and that keeps your mood mired in worry.

Get your news from one or two official and reliable sources. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is an excellent resource for coronavirus updates. Your local health official's website is another good place to stay updated about what's happening in your state and...

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