Many of us are working at home and so are our partners and spouses. Plus, students are home from school. And we all need our space. The problem is that most of us do not have homes that are set up to accommodate each of us having a private workspace. We’ll be able to get through this if we manage our stress and maintain a positive perspective. And, this is where gratitude can help.

COVID-19 has hit the U.S. and has shut down businesses and schools all over the country. College students are having to switch to online classes and forced to move out of their dorms and move back home. As a senior in college, I’ve had my final semester abruptly cut short. Yet, there are still things to be thankful for.

Catastrophizing is an irrational thought that leads us to believe that something is far worse than it actually is. Every person tends to catastrophize from time to time. And it’s easy to see how this could happen now, more than ever. But, how do we transform these thoughts?

What’s the deal with the run on toilet paper? Why did everyone decide that they need a basketful of this particular product? While many experts have sought to explain this phenomenon with various theories, it might be as simple as this, it’s our way of trying to exert control in a world that feels out of control.