Hey, Hey Guys!

How is everyone making it? I just wanted to check in with you to see how you’re feeling and to share a few things that I’m doing to remain as cool, calm, and collected as I can while we chart this unfamiliar territory. COVID-19 is certainly a frightening issue for many of us, and it can even be a little confusing. I’m not going to attempt to explain the details of the disease, because certainly I can’t… I’m not really sure who can these days. But, I do want to share with you some ways that I’m coping and navigating my thoughts and emotions.

1. Acknowledge What You’re Feeling

I think this is a vital step that we tend to skip in times like these. We often head directly into reaction mode instead of taking the time to sit with ourselves and really figure out how we feel. Are you afraid? Anxious? Confused? Are you feeling strong? Calm? Peaceful? It’s important to know that whatever you’re feeling is OK. Your feelings don’t have to match you friend’s, spouse’s, parents’ or anyone else’s. Your feelings belong to you. When I took a little break from my own “busy work” for a minute, I realized that I felt mostly calm, but I still had some times that I became a little more anxious than other times. I’m ok with that, and I feel like it’s a pretty appropriate response to what we’re going through right now. So, try taking a moment to yourself. Pause the activities that we sometimes use to distract us from our thoughts, and take a minute to sort out your feelings. Acknowledge them, feel them, and know that there are ways to address and change how we feel if we need to.

2. Engage In Activities That Bring You Peace

If you discover that you are feeling afraid or anxious, do something that, under normal circumstances, would help you unwind. For me, that’s having a fun conversation with a friend, where we laugh, say inappropriate things that we only say with each other, LOL, and just spend a few minutes being silly. I also like to take walks, so a long walk outside in the park or on a trail is a great way for me to release tension and stress. I’ve been watching reruns of my favorite TV shows. Nothing too serious; usually a comedy or something super corny and lighthearted works for me. If you’re off work or quarantined, it’s the perfect time to binge watch a show you’ve been meaning to catch! If your favorite activity is something that’s not available to do during this time, maybe try recreating it at home. Sometimes I like to take myself out for a nice dinner after work. So, now I’m exploring new recipes to make at home!

3. Avoid People and Situations That Increase Your Anxiety

Now, I realize this one is easier said than done. Some people are just naturally more nervous or excitable than others, and that’s ok. I tend to trend more towards the nonchalant end of the spectrum, especially when it’s something that’s completely out of my control. Again, there are no right or wrong feelings, here. However, if you’re like me and feel like you’re in a pretty good place right now, then it’s important to protect that place. Show compassion towards those who are afraid, but also set boundaries. Of course, COVID-19 is a major topic of discussion, so I’ll allow about 10-15 mins to talk, vent, discuss changes, and express some feelings about it while we speak, but after that, we should move on to something else. For me to remain in a good place, I need to limit repetitive conversation about it. Also, a trip to the supermarket can be overwhelming for anyone right now. I suggest going during early morning hours, if possible, or maybe using a grocery delivery service. I recently tried Instacart for the first time and LOVED it! I even ordered my mom’s groceries and had them delivered to her. I know, I know…I’m a little behind the times on this, but prior to sheltering in place, and social distancing, I really enjoyed shopping for groceries!

4. Unplug

I can’t stress this one enough. Unplugging from social media and the news for a few hours, or maybe even a few days, can be a major gamechanger when it comes to your overall mental and emotional well-being. Both can cause us to hear and read the same triggering information over and over again, and that’s not good for anyone. I make sure to unplug from social media for a couple hours a day, and only watch the news about once a week or so. This helps me to keep anxious feelings in check while remaining informed enough to follow updated guidelines.

Unplugging from people may be something to think about too. Now, when I say unplugging from people, I don’t mean isolating yourself. I think it’s important to stay in communication with others. However, this is not the time to travel all over the city and socialize with everyone.  I get it. Some are not working, bored, restless, and just not used to being still. It’s difficult to wrap our minds around this being our new normal, and to be honest, I’m still trying to process all of the changes. But for now, adhering to distancing recommendations seems to be the best action we can take for our overall well-being. When we’re doing what we should to protect ourselves physically, we could see the benefits mentally and emotionally as well.

5. Use Your Spiritual Tools

Something that supports my overall mental wellness is my connection to God. I enjoy having quiet time to pray and read scripture. It makes me feel heard, safe, protected and more in control of my thoughts and feelings. Although we may have different faiths as it relates to religion, I believe that we can all apply spiritual tools. Mediation, prayer, speaking positive affirmations, and positive reading material,  are all spiritual tools that can be used by anyone to achieve an overall sense of well-being. If your not sure where to start, YouTube has tons of guided meditations, prayers, affirmations, you name it!!

These are just a few practices that I’ve put into place. I’m finding them helpful, and I hope that you will too! If you find yourself feeling isolated, having anxious or depressive thoughts or feelings that may have increased, or are affecting you daily activities/interactions, please reach out to a medical or mental health professional immediately. I’ve also attached a couple of helpful links below.

Helpful Links:

Crisis Text Line

https://www.crisistextline.org

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/