Let’s face it. Unless you have been living under a rock in 2020, chances are you know that life is terrible for almost everyone right now. Covid-19 is devastating the world over, the economy is struggling, and with it families are too.

The good news is, you can still manage to thrive during terrible times, by following a few basic rules for coping.

Avoid negativity

You know that when you open up your news app, there is going to be a lot of news—most of it not good. You know when you go on social media, there will be some good news, but also a lot of bad news. Control how much negativity you see every day. That means limiting your intake of negativity, even if that means closing down your phone and meditating instead.

This also means watching the negativity that comes from your own mouth. Focus on phrasing things positively when ever possible. Instead of saying, “This is terrible” consider saying, “This could be improved, lets work on it!”

 Practice gratitude

Being thankful for what you have can make a big difference in how you look and feel about things. Take a moment every day to thank the people that help you, and also to think about the things that are still going well in your life.

 Gratitude can reduce your stress, and help you cope with bad situations.

Get enough sleep

When you don’t sleep well, you are more stressed, feel frustrated faster, and can cause you to feel more negative. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, and the world will seem that much better. It may be helpful to take your bedtime seriously, and set an alarm for getting ready for bed in the same way you set one to help you wake up.

Times are tough, but with a few key changes, you can manage your stress and find a way to thrive.