2020 - What a Year
Have you ever felt overwhelmed or just confused about this year so far? Yeah, me too. This year has challenged us all in many ways, and it’s only June! As some may see it as a negative few months, there are a lot of positive changes happening in our world. We are living through history right now with coronavirus, Black Lives Matter protests, and so much more. It can be a difficult time for many, so I want to provide some ways to help:
Self care
I can’t stress this enough. Our mental health matters now more than ever. Many people’s mental health (mine included) has struggled during this year, and still is. Make sure to listen to your body and mind, and take time to relax or disconnect for a while when needed. I recommend taking a hot bath, listening to music, or going on a walk.
Take a social media break
I know this can be difficult sometimes because we feel like we’ll miss something. I promise it will all still be there. It definitely can be hard during this time with what’s going on, but I feel like it’s necessary for our health to spend a few hours a day not on any socials. One good way to start is by not checking social media when you first wake up. I am guilty of this, and definitely notice the negative effects. Checking your social media in the morning can lead to anxiety and stress to start your day.
Meditation
With the devastation our world is enduring right now, meditating is a great way to help calm our busy minds. Just five minutes a day can make an impact. Meditation has been found to decrease stress & anxiety, increase our mood, and our overall happiness. There are many different guided meditation apps and Youtube channels out there. My favorite app is Simple Habit, and has many different guided meditations for 5, 10, or 15 minutes. Some others include Headspace, Calm, or The Mindfulness App. Youtube is full of meditation videos as well. It may be difficult in the beginning, but stick with it, and you will notice the benefits!
Yoga
I love yoga because it gets you moving, and helps ground you at the same time. There are numerous benefits to practicing yoga, as well as an amazing community of those who practice. This practice is for anyone because you can go at your own speed, and do whatever feels good for you! I love throwing on my favorite Youtube channel, Yoga with Adriene, and feeling more grounded & calmer after. It is a great opportunity to relax and be mindful of your body.
Educate yourself
During these few weeks, I have felt a range of emotions. I was angry, sad, but not surprised when George Floyd was murdered due to police brutality. I know many of us are feeling the same all over the world. I believe we should educate ourselves & others, listen, and help fight for justice (either by signing petitions, protesting, sharing information, or shopping Black-owned businesses). Many of us will never understand how it feels to be discriminated against just because of our skin color, but we can all do our best to try. Remember, whatever emotions you are feeling during this time, they are all valid.
Here are some links to resources -
https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/supporting-black-lives-matter
https://www.distractify.com/p/books-to-educate-yourself-blm
Reach out to family & friends
I feel like this is very important to keep us connected during this time. It can feel very lonely and overwhelming with everything going on in the world. Check in on your friends and family to see how they are doing, too. Some great ways to make this fun could be to schedule facetime wine nights with friends (my personal favorite), zoom calls with family, or even just a phone call will suffice. It can be comforting knowing you are not in this alone, and the rest of the world is going through something similar. If you need extra support during this time, please don’t be afraid to reach out for more help:
- National suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- (Arizona) Crisis hotline: 1-602-222-9444 or 1-800-631-1314
- (Arizona) Warmline - Peer to peer: 602-347-1100