So, like millions of people, we are all staying home (hopefully!!!) for the good of our fellow
humans. But, in an instant gratification society, where social events such as:
eating out, festivals, the movies and seeing family are culturally more frequent
than ever before, many of us are bound to be struggling one way or another. I know
I have been and still do on some days. We are used to being out frequently (OK, maybe not you,
oh introverted ones!) Not to mention the stress and fear the media are pumping into our
precious minds. Of course it is important to keep up to date, but wow, what a barrage
of overstimulating information! No wonder so many of us are super anxious
and stressed out right now.
Yes, our grandparents indeed fought in world wars and by comparison we are being told
to just stay home. Thank you soldiers for your sacrifice and horror you went though
but it is also OK for us to have a negative mental response to an enormous and
complex global pandemic. A situation where none of us know the outcome or end. That is a
natural breeding ground for anxious and depressed responses. It's normal.
It's OK to feel that way. Particularly, because similarly to the world wars -
many of us ARE being physically separated from loved one, without an end in sight.
Whilst I am by no means a professional, here are some of my tips to encourage you all,
for what my two cents is worth! Together we can pull through.
Enjoy!
humans. But, in an instant gratification society, where social events such as:
eating out, festivals, the movies and seeing family are culturally more frequent
than ever before, many of us are bound to be struggling one way or another. I know
I have been and still do on some days. We are used to being out frequently (OK, maybe not you,
oh introverted ones!) Not to mention the stress and fear the media are pumping into our
precious minds. Of course it is important to keep up to date, but wow, what a barrage
of overstimulating information! No wonder so many of us are super anxious
and stressed out right now.
Yes, our grandparents indeed fought in world wars and by comparison we are being told
to just stay home. Thank you soldiers for your sacrifice and horror you went though
but it is also OK for us to have a negative mental response to an enormous and
complex global pandemic. A situation where none of us know the outcome or end. That is a
natural breeding ground for anxious and depressed responses. It's normal.
It's OK to feel that way. Particularly, because similarly to the world wars -
many of us ARE being physically separated from loved one, without an end in sight.
Whilst I am by no means a professional, here are some of my tips to encourage you all,
for what my two cents is worth! Together we can pull through.
Enjoy!
- GET DRESSED and make the bed. Yep, it sure is tempting to spend the whole day in pjs (believe me I have done this so much with my own isolated, jobless lifestyle the past 5 months even prior to COVID-19 lockdown! However, it does my mental health zero favours, and I can bet it isn’t doing yours any favours either).
- Make a list for what you want to do that day. It could literally be a couple things but try not to overwhelm yourself with unrealistic expectations of yourself to just beat yourself up about later. That is not having self compassion.
- Go for a daily walk/do a workout/stretch: again it is OK if these do not happen on some days but we all know this is excellent for our physical and mental health.
- Eat well: I do not need to be an expert in anything to know that eating/drinking poorly on a regular basis is also a set up for poor output, which in turn makes us feel extra gross, extra lethargic and extra achey.
- Limit screen/social media/news and TV time - it sucks us in, makes us feel meh and overstimulates us, which has been scientifically shown to increase anxiety and depression - feelings a lot of us already had pre-existing or are now experiencing thanks to COVID-19.
- Dust off that guitar and strum away again like you used to.
- Learn a new skill - have you ever wanted to learn a language or do something else? If this is a practical option for you, you could set aside some time to do that. If you never do this during lockdown/social distancing, that is also totally fine!
- Make a new recipe - one you have always put off.
- Have video dinner dates with friends/families/partners or games nights. Even watch a live stream of a musical or film together and discuss it afterwards/during via message. My partner and I had to be creative by breaking through physical distance for 3.5 years in a transatlantic relationship. So, we truly know you can defeat separation to some degree with the blessing of technology.
- Spend time with God and yourself: those of faith -nurture this relationship, give Him the burdens and lean on Him. Nurture the relationship with yourself too with self care and compassion. These relationships are crucial to overall well-being.
.
- Have a bad day. Yep, you read that right! If nothing at all seems possible and just totally out of reach - ALLOW YOURSELF TO HAVE A BAD DAY. Read that again. You have not failed because particular days absolutely suck. You do not always have to be productive, society often drums into us that this is where self worth can be found. That is not true. Productivity is obviously essential for some things, but we must allow ourselves to have struggle days too. I have had many, many bad days these past few months and have had to really work on learning that it is totally OK to have them. I must not beat myself up because I DO believe I deserve my own love, just as much as I would love on any other struggling human being. So, why would I not deserve the same? Well, I do!! And so do you!!! On these days self care is more important that ever.
Be kind to yourself.
Have self compassion.
Connect with others.
It is going to be OK.
Each day is one step closer to this madness ending.
Basically, I am just another human stumbling along this weird journey with you, wanting to
share some encouraging tips that I find work for me whilst keeping it real.
share some encouraging tips that I find work for me whilst keeping it real.
Love to you all,
Kim x
Getting into bird and wildlife watching :)
Picnics, whiskey, and painting wooden vegetables, because why the frig not?
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