As a professional in the Corporate Social Responsibility field, times of crisis can be high stress, fast-paced, and demanding. Recognizing that CSR often plays a significant role in addressing needs during crisis, it is also important to acknowledge those working in the field are responding both professionally and personally.

As an influx of self-care recommendations and remedies inundate our inboxes and tv screens, it can be hard to sift through the information and find something that works for you. Looking to the experts in psychology who have put forth coping mechanisms during COVID-19, Dr. Russ Harris has gained great popularity with his “F.A.C.E. C.O.V.I.D” method. 

Dr. Russ Harris is a globally-renowned trainer for Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). He is a medically-trained doctor, psychotherapist, and consultant to the World Health Organization. He conducts workshops on ACT around the world and provides ACT training to thousands of health professionals, counselors, coaches, doctors and therapists.

Hopefully, “F.A.C.E. C.O.V.I.D.” will give you a few more tools to process the personal stress of working directly with frontline response and with the nonprofit community as we all pivot to a new normal. The following are a series of practical steps proposed by Dr. Russ Harris:

F = Focus on what’s in your control

A = Acknowledge your thoughts and feelings

C = Come back into your body

E = Engage in what you’re doing

C = Committed action

O = Opening up 

V = Values

I = Identify resources

D = Disinfect and distance

For a more in-depth explanation of “F.A.C.E. C.O.V.I.D” and how you can use it during this stressful time, watch Dr. Harris’ 5-minute video on How to Respond Effectively to the Corona Crisis.