Hurricane season is upon us and those of us who have lived through past hurricanes know very well how these storms, and weather in general, can be unpredictable despite the vast media coverage. With each storm, people learn more and more innovative ways to stay safe, out of harm’s way.

But what about the stress that comes with preparing and waiting out a storm? There are ways to keep your stress down and your sense of calm up during this trying weather. Here are a few suggestions to de-stress while waiting out a hurricane.

1. Make sure you prepare early on. The more you have ready before a storm actually hits, the more likely you will feel calm and ready for it when it touches land. Create a list of items you need to buy that are specific to hurricane preparedness. If you are not into making lists, stop by your local hardware store or supermarket and you are sure to find the official hurricane weather guide for your area.
2.  Find indoor activities you enjoy for waiting out the hurricane. If you and your partner will be home alone for the storm, stock up on books, movies (if you have electricity), board games, or anything else that interests you. This may be a good time to catch up on those conversations you may have been too busy for during the rest of the year!
3. Create a safety kit. Ensure that you have everything you need in case someone in your home gets hurt during the hurricane. Take an inventory of what you have on hand and what you may need to purchase before the stores close.If you are already in the middle of a hurricane now, keep this in mind for next time so that you feel more at ease in case of minor injury mid-storm.
4. Relax. Yes, this might seem like a simplistic statement but it says a lot. Regardless of what you do or don’t do to prepare for a hurricane, the storm will arrive. There isn’t much, if at all you can do to stop it. Creating a panic will make you and your loved ones nervous. If you exude a sense of calm, others around you will pick up on it and hopefully feel the same!
5. Stay connected to loved ones but conserve battery power. Wait for the storm to pass. Once you have everything as ready as you would like, wait for the storm to pass. Stay in touch with loves ones through your cell phones or other electronic devices but try to keep the communications to an ‘as needed’ basis.This way, you will conserve your phone battery if the power goes out. With the age of technology, we are a spoiled bunch who loves to be in constant contact with the rest of the world. If you lose power in your phone, you may feel stressed out and unable to contact others until the storm has passed. Keep the telephone use at a minimum if possible.

Here’s a great video that discusses how a hurricane can impact your stress level and immediate mental health.

Are you in the middle of a hurricane now? How did you prepare? What will you keep in mind the next hurricane comes around and you start feeling stressed out?