These are challenging, uncertain times. It can be hard for journalists to make sense of how the coronavirus outbreak is affecting their own day-to-day lives, let alone the lives of community members they need to cover. 

But it’s important to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and if newsrooms want to be able to continue to serve their neighbors, they need to take care of themselves as well.

Here are some self-care resources and tips we’ve found over the past couple of weeks. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected] with any other suggestions.

• From Columbia Journalism School, The Dart Center has created self-care guides and support practices for editors and reporters during times of disaster
  • Self-Care Amid Disaster
  • Reporters Exposed to Traumatic Events: Tips for Managers and Editors
  • Editor Perspective: Self-Care Practices and Peer Support for the Newsroom
• Poynter released nine stress-relieving strategies for journalists working this non-stop story and how they can take care of themselves
• In this 2017 ONA post, Hannah Wise, now with The New York Times, shared three tips for a community-approach to self care.
• In addition to physical health measures, the CDC released lists of tips and links to resources for managing anxiety and stress during an outbreak
• University of Virginia clinical psychologist Claudia Allen assembled nine tips to protect your mental health during quarantine
• Wikimedia, the nonprofit behind Wikipedia, announced its remote work strategy, emphasizing a family-focused approach that prioritizes employee well-being.
• Misleading headlines can spark more panic. Harvard Health Publishing and Time posted tricks to weeding out misinformation and keeping a clear head. 
• Hannah Storm, director of the Ethical Journalism Network, documented ethical concerns surrounding coronavirus reporting and how journalists can take care of themselves.
• Itching to dive into a story? Scribd is offering all ebooks and audiobooks to all for free in an effort to ease self-isolation. 
• Despite gyms being shut down for the foreseeable future, staying active at home is not impossible! The New York Times put together some tips for at-home exercise.  
• Astronaut Scott Kelly gives advice on self-isolation after spending almost a year alone in space from 2015-2016.
• ELLE writer George Driver published 9 rituals to manage daily anxiety during coronavirus quarantine

• The International Journalists’ Network is hosting a worldwide webinar on Journalists’ mental health from 1pm to 2pm EDT on April 2. It features a panel including executive director of Columbia University’s Dart Center, Bruce Shapiro, and Sherri Ricchiardi, co-author of ICFJ’s Disaster and Crisis Coverage Guide
• The Carter Center’s Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism. collected resources on mental health management and self-care for both journalists and the general public

• The International Journalists Network held a webinar on journalists’ mental health and curated resources for working journalists. 
• First Draft assembled self-care guidelines for journalists to stay healthy while demand for reporting is high
• Healthy habits are paramount while self isolating. The Philadelphia Inquirer offers resources to stay consistent including tips for better sleep and daily stretches to relieve daily tension.

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by Maeve Hennessey, The Lenfest Institute