4-minute read
Needless to say, 2020 has been an unexpectedly stressful year for all of us. On March 11th, The World Health Organization announced that the COVID-19 outbreak was officially a global pandemic, and we have all been living in a new, uncertain reality since then.
Here at The Organizer Chicks, we are big believers in holistic wellness. It’s why we do what we do. And, we recognize that living in the time of Covid-19 comes with some extra stress. So, we want to share some insight about managing stress and navigating these hard times. In particular, we want to take a look at self-care, avoidable negativity, and reset rituals. (To listen to our podcast episode on managing stress, click here.)
The Importance of Self-Care
“Self-care” refers to practices and lifestyle choices that empower people to effectively navigate periods of high stress while avoiding burnout (Click here to learn more about burnout).
In reality, the stress of this global pandemic is likely going to continue to affect all of us for a while. Rather than adopting an attitude of pure survival, we want to encourage our readers to learn how to manage this stress in a sustainable way. Self-care simply means making sure that your emotional, mental, and physical needs are met so that you are well-equipped to manage life in a fruitful, healthy manner.
Self-care means doing those things that fill your cup. This could include playing board games with family, giving a friend a phone call, planting a garden, taking a bath, or even binging your favorite Netflix series. Whatever it might be for you, know that setting aside time to practice self-care is not lazy or selfish. In order to care for your loved ones, you need to first care for yourself and make sure that your tank isn’t running on empty. In fact, caring for yourself is one of the best gifts you can give to your loved ones.
Click here to check out a helpful article containing some specific ideas of ways you can practice self-care.
Getting Rid of Avoidable Negativity
Next, we want to address the concept of “avoidable negativity.” The idea here is that while there are many stressful aspects of life that we can’t control — such as a global pandemic — there are other aspects that we can control. Rather than despairing over those circumstances that lie outside of any one person’s control, we constantly encourage our clients to take action to reduce unnecessary stress and avoidable negativity within their own realms of influence.
One way you can reduce avoidable negativity is through reclaiming control of your physical environment.
If you live in a cluttered environment, the clutter is likely causing you more stress than you realize. Research shows that living in a cluttered space causes your brain to release a hormone called cortisol, otherwise known as “the stress hormone.” In other words, on a neurological level, your brain is going to feel more overloaded and stressed if your home is cluttered.
That continued stress is exhausting. So, if you’re feeling worn out and tired, taking some time to declutter may help you win back some much-needed peace in your life. If you need support in that process, please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us directly.
To learn more about the stress that clutter can cause, click here to check out this blog post.
Practicing a Reset Ritual
Anxiety is running high in our nation right now. Reset rituals are a way that you can become more mindful about your anxious thoughts and start releasing those anxieties. Let’s walk through the five easy steps of reset.
Practice thought stopping. Once you start worrying about something that is out of your control, recognize that negative thought for what it is, and pause it.
Name the thought or feeling you are experiencing. Recognize that you are feeling scared, annoyed, or frustrated. Putting words to our feelings allows us to experience more agency and awareness, and it can help us remember that our feelings are real.
Allow yourself, for just a few seconds, to feel the feelings. Whatever you are feeling is valid and okay. Taking a minute to experience your emotions without any judgment or shame will prepare you to move forward.
Breathe. In through your nose and out through your mouth, three times, slowly, and allow the thought or the feeling to grow more distant with each exhale.
Release. This might look different for different people. Some people vocalize their release and say “not today” or “I release this feeling.” Some people might practice a mental image of pushing the feeling back. Others might say a quick prayer. Claim victory over fear or thank the universe or God or the ability to rise above. Do whatever works for you.
Hopefully, this practice will help you acknowledge, experience, and release your emotions so that you can be ready to move forward.
A Final Note on Mental Wellness
During these particularly stressful times, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions: What’s my mental load right now? Am I overtaxed? Am I disengaging?
If you are feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out to a local therapist or counselor. There are caring, non-judgmental people who are trained to walk with you through whatever dark time you might be experiencing. And please, always remember that if a burden that you are carrying becomes too much, that you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-800-273-8255, or you can chat online at SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
We hope that you are able to apply some of these suggestions to help you navigate stress. Please leave us a comment below to let us know how you’re coping during these hard times, and let us know how else we can help.
To listen to our podcast episode about managing stress during COVID-19, click here.