Shelter in place. Stay at home. Two phrases I never expected to hear in this day and age. It’s 2020 for crying out loud and it seems as though a virus has stopped the world in its’ tracks. Take a look at your Facebook feed and it’s clear to see that no one could have imagined a global pandemic such as this in this modern age of medicine. And yet, here we are.
In times like this, it’s easy to feel anxious. There is so much uncertainty and the “what if” game is alive and well. But as I sit here and write this post, I’m reminded of how powerful the human mind is. While we can’t control the feelings that we have, we CAN control how we respond to them. Nearly everyone feels anxious to some degree right now, but we get to choose how we respond to these feelings. So here’s how I’m choosing to respond to my own anxieties and worries:
1. I’m limiting how much news, social media, and general media I’m consuming. I know, I know, everyone tells us this. But you know what, being informed doesn’t mean being inundated. I’m being mindful of the accounts I’m following now and choosing ones that make me laugh and smile.
2. I’m reading a ton! And not just books about work. Books that are light hearted, interesting, and make me forget about the craziness for a while. Right now, in addition to some work reading (Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb- a phenomenal book for everyone to read), I’m reading The Lullaby Sky by Carolyn Brown. Jury is still out on whether I like it.
3. I’m talking to my friends and family to get support. I don’t think I’ve ever Facetimed, called, and texted my family and friends so much in my life, but it makes me feel good to be so connected to them. BUT, it’s important to put some limits around what you are talking about. Don’t just talk about what’s going on in the world right now. Talk about life, about funny things, about frustrating things, about the meme you saw on Instagram, or about some funny memory from long ago. Don’t just dwell. It’s okay to tell your loved ones that you don’t want to talk about the pandemic!
4. I go to therapy. This is a practice for me in general, but it feels more important now than ever. Talking to someone that’s not in your day to day life about your worries, fears, sadness, or whatever you feel (all of it is okay) is incredibly beneficial. There are tons of great resources out there, but here’s a few:
o 7 Cups of Tea offers free connection to peer support volunteers who want to talk and listen: https://www.7cups.com
o Talkspace offers sessions with licensed therapists via video or audio for a fee: www.talkspace.com
o Betterhelp offers sessions with licensed therapists via video or audio for a fee: www.betterhelp.com
5. I move my body. While I’m better at this some days compared to others, I try to be mindful of not sitting too long in one position. As most of us are now working from home, it can be hard to remember to move around or go for a walk. Sometimes I just don’t feel like it because I’ve been still all day. But I always feel better after stretching or a walk, even a short one.
These are a few of the things that have been keeping the worries at bay for me. I hope you all find what works best for you and MAKE A SCHEDULE. We all tend to do a little better with a schedule, even a loose one. Try not to dwell on the worry, we will come out the other side of this, together. So remember, be extra kind to one another because we are all just trying to get through the best way we know how.
I’ll leave you with some song lyrics that have been soothing me the last few days:
Be Still by The Fray
Be still and know that I’m with you
Be still and know that I am here
Be still and know that I’m with you
Be still, be still, and know
When darkness comes upon you
And colors you with fear and shame
Be still and know that I’m with you
And I will say your name
If terror falls upon your bed
And sleep no longer comes
Remember all the words I said
Be still, be still, and know
And when you go through the valley
And shadows come down from the hill
If morning never comes to be
Be still, be still, be still
If you forget the way to go
And lose where you came from
If no one is standing beside you
Be still and know I am
Be still and know that I’m with you
Be still and know I am
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