Self Care is More Important than Ever

The events of the last few months have sparked and unprecedented change in our daily lives. For essential workers, stress is at an all-time high. Working on the front lines to fight the virus and make sure that everyone is able to get the essential services we need. Those working from home have had to deal with the sudden change that comes with shifting to an at-home office environment. Remaining productive while juggling children, pets, and distractions that are ever prevalent in your home environment. Those who have been laid off or otherwise are not working due to the virus have been faced with an excess of time and nothing to do to keep them distracted from the stress of not having an income. Truly it is a stressful time for everyone.

In all of this stress, boredom, worry and fear, one thing tends to take a backseat. Self-Care deserves just as much attention as what you do with your day and what you put in your stomach. This series of blogs will provide you with some helpful tips for self-care while we are dealing with this pandemic.

 

Mental Health

The most important thing to remember during this time is that its okay to not be okay. This crisis has everyone in a position they aren’t comfortable with. Being sad, stressed, upset, unmotivated, etc is completely normal. The important thing is to not let yourself stay in that state. Try these things to keep yourself out of that dark place and into a positive one.

 

Grounding:

A common practice for those struggling with anxiety is grounding, when thoughts become overwhelming it is important to be able to refocus on the present moment.

 

5-4-3-2-1 Method

• An easy technique that you can use anywhere at any time as it uses just your environment and your senses.
• Start with 5 things you hear
• 4 things you can see
• 3 things you can touch from where you’re sitting
• 2 things you can smell
• And 1 thing you can taste.

 

Describe a common task

• Pick a simple task you do every day, like making coffee, feeding your pet, etc
• Go through the details of the task in a step by step manner as though you are teaching someone else to do it.
• Visualize each moment of the process and focus on it.

There are many methods of grounding, you can find hundreds online, but the important part is bringing your mind back to the present moment and leaving the stress behind. It can be difficult at first but keep at it and you will eventually relax.

 

Disconnect from the noise:

If it's news, social media or emails, avoid unnecessary content consumption that contributes to your uncertainty, tension, and anxiety. There is a fine line between being informed and giving in to the ego that loves drama.

• Put your phone away, turn off the tv, put away your laptop
• Try reading a book, doing a puzzle, crossword, or brainteaser
• Give yourself a break from the onslaught of information we subject ourselves to on a daily basis

 

Meditate:

Meditation is an extremely easy and effective way to help your mental health state. There are so many ways to meditate and it doesn’t require anything special, not even silence.

• Try using a guided meditation app like Headspace to help you get started with meditation. (they even have a free playlist on Spotify!)
• Find a comfortable space where you won’t be disturbed. It doesn’t have to quiet, just free from distractions like kids or pets.
• Sit comfortably, or lay down. Relax your muscles one by one, starting at your toes and working your way through your body
• Focus on your breathing, deep breaths in through your nose, and out through your mouth.
• Close your eyes and pay attention to your surroundings, the sounds, the smells.
• Don’t focus your attention on any one thing, just let them pass over you, acknowledging them but not focusing.
• Keep at this for between 5-10 mins (or longer)

 

Keeping your mind healthy during this crisis is very important. Extended isolation is liable to put everyone on edge. Hopefully, these tips allow you to keep some sense of control. It’ll be no good if we all come out of our homes having gone crazy from isolation! Take care of yourself so we can all take care of each other. Next month we will explore the physical health tips to help you in isolation.