When you’re cleaning up the mess after a natural disaster, it’s easy to neglect your wellbeing and put everyone’s needs ahead of your own. But to look after your loved ones and your community, you also have to take care of yourself. Here are some no-nonsense tips and tools you can add into your routine, no matter how busy you are.

Going through a natural disaster can be stressful and scary, and right now, you may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, tired, angry, hōhā, sad, or something else entirely. However you’re feeling, it’s perfectly normal. If you can, take things day by day or hour by hour, and remember you’re doing the best you can. - print ready file

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In light of the recent floods and natural disasters affecting parts of Aotearoa in 2026, we’re resharing this kōrero with Dr Sarb Johal. Although first published after Cyclone Gabrielle, the advice remains deeply relevant today.

We asked Dr Sarb for tips on managing fear and stress, coping with increased feelings of climate anxiety, and more.

Everyone responds differently in these situations and at their own pace, too. It’s important to remember that feeling all sorts of emotions in difficult situations is absolutely normal and human.

It’s easy to blame ourselves for how we feel or even tell ourselves we should be feeling a different way, but shaming or squashing our feelings makes us feel worse.