Musings....
March 2020
As we are all adjusting to our collective new normal here are a couple of self-care tips to help us through these unsettling times, see if any resonate with you.
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Maintain some structure in your life. Try and maintain a day to day routine.
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Keep yourself physically well. Sleep, exercise and eat healthy. Many local gyms, yoga studios are offering free “live” classes. Let me know if you would like a list. Also for the next three months Peloton is offering free access to their app for all their classes (strength training, yoga, meditation).
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Engage with others. Stay social (virtually) - through FaceTime, Zoom, gaming, phone calls, text, meme wars.
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With the extra time, reach out to old friends. Write letters (remember those!?) to loved ones.
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Take care of yourself so that you can be present and care for your loved ones. Take the time to relax. Some ideas:
Meditate. Journal. Take advantage of the sunny days and get outside. Take a walk or go for a hike. Garden. Listen to your favorite music or a good podcast/ good audiobook. Be creative. Engage in an activity that brings you joy.
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Protect your “me time”- Give yourself “timeouts” throughout the day to recharge and feel refreshed. Try to limit things or people who are emotionally draining or not supportive.
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Laugh!
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Accept what is in our control and what is not. We can control how we react and how we care for ourselves. We can control how much television or social media we consume.
We are all in this together! Stay safe and be well!
Sites that may be of interest:
5 Ways to Care For Your Mental Health During Coronavirus
How to talk to our older parents about Covid 19
Free Audible link for children
Parents Need Stress Relief Too
Talking with kids about the Coronavirus
Supporting Kids during the Covid 19 Crisis
Supporting Teens during the Covid 19 Crisis
Handling our Kid's Disappointment when Everything is Canceled
April 2020
This is all new for everyone and we are in this together.
During this uncertain time it can be easy to focus on all the things we cannot do or all the things we cannot control. Feelings of anxiety are normal- it’s how our brain lets us know that there is something to be concerned about. Feelings of loss are normal as well- our day to day way of life and the way we interact has been upended. When you are ready, allow yourself to grieve the losses that this pandemic has caused you. These are not “normal” times. There isn’t a “quick fix” for the disappointments we are feeling. What is important is to acknowledge that the feelings/disappointments are there and to let yourself know that you will do your best to understand them/ manage them and that you will grieve them when you are ready.
Now, more than ever, self care is important. Isolation and not taking care of yourself can lead to unhealthy ways of coping. Basic needs such as food, water and sleep are important. Also important is trying to maintain a sense of meaning/purpose. In terms of self care there is no one size fits all, some of these ideas might work for you and others may not. You won’t know until you give it a try. The ideas that do work may hopefully become a part of your day to day routine. Below are some self care suggestions.
Remember to be kind to yourself during these difficult times and make attempts to stay connected to those you care about (family, friends, your community).
Self Care Checklist
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Shower
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Stay Hydrated
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Make sure you eat
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Complete a task- clean a room, finish a project, make a meal
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Get into Nature- Get outside for some fresh air
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Laugh
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Reach out to someone not in your home
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Do one thing to get your heart rate up
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Practice a few moments of mindfulness
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Sit and listen to a favorite song
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Participate in a spiritual practice that brings you comfort
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Practice meditation for a few moments.
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Do something that will bring you joy later
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Spend some time (even if it is a few minutes) with a loved one
Articles that may be of interest:
Boston Globe article- Tips on coping while kids are home through June
Podcast- Grief and Finding Meaning. Brene Brown, guest David Kessler
5 Positive Lessons from the Coronavirus Crisis
The Reality of Covid-19 Is Hitting Teens Especially Hard
Canceled Graduation? Missing Milestones Is Tough On Young People : Shots - Health News
How to Foster Resilience in Kids
Understanding Grief in the Age of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Ambiguous loss differs from typical grief—here are tips to deal
