JAWS self-care resource guide for journalists during COVID-19

Curated by Marissa Evans, Social Issues Reporter, The Star Tribune

As coronavirus upends every aspect of our personal and professional lives, journalists are expected to do what we’ve always done: soldier on. No matter how dire the headlines get each passing day about the pandemic, this is a story that will have ripple effects for years to come, and we are the first witnesses to that history. But every journalist has a breaking point and too often it’s hard for us to come to grips with the fact that some stories simply weigh us down physically, emotionally and mentally.

This guide is meant to be a starting point of resources from around the internet on ways we can balance the demands of our jobs with the uncertainty of a pandemic. It includes links on working from home, where to find mental health resources, managing children, ways to relax your mind and body, and places to seek financial assistance. There are also general links to stories that we hope will provide some level of comfort and solace in these strange times. We intend to update this guide as often as we can.

SELF CARE

• The Dos and Don’ts of ‘Social Distancing’ (via The Atlantic)

• What I learned from living a socially isolated life for the past two years (via Curbed)

• Stop Trying to Be Productive (via The New York Times)

• The Four Possible Timelines for Life Returning to Normal (via The Atlantic)

• How to Stay Married During a Pandemic (via The Cut)

• That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief (Harvard Business Review)

• How Journalists Can Deal With Trauma While Reporting on COVID-19 (via Global Investigative Journalism Network)

• It’s OK to scream and complain. This is a pretty terrible time. (via Poynter)

• COVID-19 mental health resources for journalists and you (via The Carter Center)

• How To Create Homemade Face Masks (via Real Simple Magazine)

• 23 Hard-Won Tips for Working at Home (via Ellevest)

• Work From Home Tips with an Ellevest Career Coach – How to focus with your kids / roommates / partner around

• ASMR, explained: why millions of people are watching YouTube videos of someone whispering (via Vox)

• 100 Simple Ways to Turn Pantry Staples into Complete Meals (via The Kitchn)

• Cooking at Home in the Time of Coronavirus (via Bon Appetit)

• How I’m Surviving Cooking for My Kids Right Now (via Bon Appetit)

• A Definitive List of the Best Livestreams for Kids to Watch (via Good Housekeeping)

• Stay Home Take Care – Activities, recommendations, and ideas to help you stay in and take care of yourself and others

• Online Art Classes We Can All Do At Home – Calligraphy, painting, illustration, printmaking classes, etc.  (via Oh So Beautiful Paper)

• 5 Best Therapy Apps for Mental Health (via Good Housekeeping)

• Social Social Distance Club Newsletter

• Yoga for Vulnerability (via Yoga With Adriene)

• 30 Day Yoga Challenge (via Yoga With Adriene)

• 30 Amazing visual Tours to Watch Now (via Good Housekeeping)

MONEY 

• GoFundMe Journalists Furlough Fund

• Solutions Journalism Network COVID-19 Grants

• Microloans for Journalists

• International Women’s Media Foundation Journalism Relief Fund

• Freelance Audio Fund (provides emergency relief to the professional audio community impacted by COVID-19)

• Freelancers Relief Fund

• What Should You Do With Your Stimulus Check?

• What freelancers need to know about the coronavirus (via Freelancers Union)

• Managing Your Financial Health During Coronavirus – Seven actions you can take right now

• Ellevest Webinars – What You Should Do With Your Money Now: Answers to Five Common Questions 

• Ellevest Webinars – How Investing Works and How to Think About Stock Market Volatility

• Investing 101: Investing Basics For Beginners (via WealthSimple)

• How the stock market works (via WealthSimple)

WORK 

• The Newsroom Guide to COVID-19 (includes a section on mental health)

• Best Practices Series: Race and COVID-19 – The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education

• Need help with crisis coverage? Sign up for free, real-time chats with Poynter experts.

• Writing about death is one of the hardest, most valuable things journalists do — here’s how to do it correctly. (via Poynter)

• ONA Community Circles – Virtual discussion groups that connect and mobilize the digital journalism community

• Journalists of Color Slack Group (includes a mental health related channel)

• How to demonstrate trustworthiness with your coronavirus coverage (via Medium)