HOW TO STILL PRACTICE SELF CARE DURING A CRISIS
Photo by Aiony Haust on Unsplash
I would like to begin by saying thank you, thank you for returning to read in a time where the world is experiencing such sudden and critical changes.
The entire first half of 2020 read like a script to a horrible movie, and just when you thought it was coming to an end it swiftly boasted a second season. I had planned on publishing my last written post - Keeping Up With The Pandemic Jones, a more personal post where I recall my overspending habits over the past 2 months. I considered this perfect and figured it would have been relatable as many people working from home can admit to ordering a ton load of packages while waiting for COVID19 to pass. I was not able to publish this post since all hell literally broke loose with the killing of George Floyd.
I personally believe that life needs to become a lot more transparent and equal in order for our society to exist more harmoniously. It doesn’t matter if you are Conservative, Independent, or Liberal we all have to strive to become more accommodating in order to embrace a future that will be more inclusive.
I found that during stressful times I would rather return to my safe place until the storm has passed, but I have decided to push myself to share a few points on how to practice self-care during a crisis.
Identify information overload.
I keep thinking to myself that things can’t possibly get any worse then ding! My phone vibrates with another update from a news outlet letting me know that it does get worse and it has been this way continuously for 3 months. Social media used to be a place of refuge for people to escape their jobs and families but has now merged with the news to summon us to the court of public opinion and everyone via comments wants their opinions to be heard. I would like to highlight the fact that a part of the reason you feel overwhelmed is because of how the information is being presented to you. All the channels as well as social media are reporting on the same stories at the same time and more frequent than usual. It is important for you to be able to identify this so that you do not feel guilty for feeling overwhelmed.
Unplug from the news
Give yourself a break from the news, watch other programs, ask for recommendations and binge a good series on Netflix, search any of these streaming services for an old movie you love, or simply indulge in a documentary (I find that documentaries about nature relaxes me the most). Reduce your notifications as much as possible and reclaim your mental space. You can view news headlines to keep abreast of what’s happening but you are not allowed to delve into articles that have negative titles and reading comments are absolutely forbidden.
Re-evaluate your goals
I know almost everyone started the year 2020 with a positive plan on how to make life improvements but now those goals seem less relevant or are no longer possible. Revisit your goals and rank them in order of importance then do a little bit of forecasting to evaluate what new goals can be accomplished in the near future. As things progress feel free to check in with your new goals and adjust accordingly.
Health and Wellness
Regardless of what is happening outside, you still need to check in on your mental health and physical wellness. Staying hydrated is one of the most important tips, the next is exercise (slow down on the caffeine). Most of us have to get a little creative since all the gyms are closed. Whatever you choose to do to get your heart rate up (safely) is up to you, get creative! Or you can just go for daily walks. Don’t forget to meditate and get quality sleep.
Remain hopeful and vigilant
Remaining hopeful during a crisis is difficult however it is very important that you remain positive. Hope can be used as a shield from the negative feelings that may lead to depression. Currently, I am grateful to still be employed, and I am grateful for my safety, I am happy that my family members and close colleagues are healthy and I am hopeful for the future. I know that things will always return to some form of normalcy after a change has occurred.
How have you been coping? feel free to share your tips in the comments
Thank you for reading to the end, I appreciate your support!
