The stress of working from home, juggling family responsibilities, and managing the instruction of students and your own children is enough to challenge anyone’s well-being says Dr. Lenora Ivy, a school psychologist with Dallas ISD Psychological and Social Services. “Everyone is affected by COVID-19 in some way—mentally, emotionally, financially, or physically,” she says.
To manage the stress, Ivy, who has authored an easy-to-read book with coping strategies, offers the following advice:
- Be gracious with yourself, your students, and others, because we are all under a lot of stress.
- Keep in mind that everyone copes differently, and it’s okay if you find you’re not functioning at an optimal level.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help or seek assistance. Ivy and her colleagues in Psychological Services and Dallas ISD Counseling Services are available to assist families and staff. And, she advises there are many organizations, agencies, and people offering assistance and support.
- In these challenging times, Ivy says everyone should take care before they speak or act to ensure their actions and words convey kindness and positivity. She says her favorite quote from poet and author Maya Angelou demonstrates the importance of being mindful of how we impact others: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Ivy has authored a book featuring two characters, Lime and Lem, who speak in plain terms about some of the common experiences people are having now and actions we can take to help ourselves and others. She offers it as a resource to help communicate positive coping strategies in this time of COVID-19. Go here to view Ivy’s book, Life with Lime and Lem.
