In the wake of wild wild week filled with doomsday media, empty grocery stores and substantial business closures it’s no surprise we’re collectively feeling a little uneasy.
In what feels like a global meltdown it is normal to feel big emotions – hello, we’re human – but it’s also really important to lean into tools that will support us in keeping it together.
Here is a list of 10 ways I’ve found peace and I really hope it serves you too.
1. Keep Your Eyes Open For the Opportunity to Serve
Consider how you can help people through this. Can you grocery shop for a senior in your area? Can you design graphics to help people feel calm? Step into your strength. It’s needed now more than ever.
2. Practice 5-5-7 breathing
You can do this kind of breathing anywhere to help calm the nervous system and turn off the fight or flight response. Breathe in for 5 seconds. Hold for 5 seconds. Breathe out for 7 seconds. Repeat x 10.
3. Shift Your Mindset
When you catch yourself thinking, “How am I going to get through this?” can you change your thought to ???????? “I am going to get through this. What opportunity is life presenting me with right now? What can I do with this time?”
4. Look For The Helpers & Heroes
As Mr. Rogers once famously said, “When I am scared I look for the helpers.” They are everywhere and it’s incredibly inspiring and uplifting to watch them work. Wherever there is chaos there will also be helpers.
5. Create Routine
Even if it’s just a morning ritual create some routine in day. Make your bed. Get dressed. Get outside for fresh air. Wash your face before bed. Just because your usual routine must change doesn’t mean you can’t create a new one.
6. Take Media Breaks
The news and social is more addictive than ever right now and filled with stuff that will raise your heart rate. Take power hour breaks to refill your tank.
7. Find Joy & Laughter Wherever You Can
Keep things light with funny shows, books and podcasts. Laughter is truly the best medicine.
8. Lean Into Self Care & The Things That Help You Thrive
Move your body. Eat nourishing foods. Have a bath. Drink your water. Sleep more. Go easy on alcohol (a depressent) and caffeine (can make some people feel jittery)
9. Breathe Into Simple Living
This is hard for me. It’s 10:30am and I feel like I’ve been at home for 900 days. I like to be busy and I crave my work but my kids need me in this moment so we’ll be baking, painting, doing yoga, cooking, reading and taking little walks outside (no parks). It’s back to the basics and I’ll be trying my best to really sink into this moment as it is where we are at.
10. Act From A Place of WE vs. ME
We are all doing our best in this situation and it is vital that we work together in order to get through this. Keeping a community based mindset will ensure that we don’t feel alone in a time of self isolation and social distancing. Take only what you need at the grocery store so that there is food left over for others. Supply chains are strong and we will not run out. Check in on your neighbours. Grab extra groceries for seniors.
While there is a lot of uncertainty and unknown in this moment of time I do know we will get through this and I have faith the world will be a better place because of it.
This virus is showing just how interconnected our global community is. It’s demonstrating loud and clear that what is happening in one part of the world has a ripple effect to all of us. It is demanding that we work together, put aside our differences and rise to a challenge that we’ve never been faced with before. And rise we will because that is what we were created to do.
So pull up your big girl boots (or whatever that saying is) and step up to the challenge. I know you have it in you.
-E. xo
