Help! I’m going crazy!
Face it! We’re all going through a crazy-making time. So how do you move through this time (however long it may turn out to be) without going crazy? Here’s some tips:
- Limit your news gathering time to 15-30 minutes tops. A steady diet of depressing numbers and fearful predictions will only feed fears about tomorrow. You can’t know how to manage tomorrow until it comes in reality, not in fearful predictions.
- Focus on what you have control over today…in this moment. #1 is your attitude. Keep affirming, “This craziness will eventually come to an end. Until then I will do the best I can to take care of myself and my loved ones. For today, that is enough.”
- Practice gratitude. Is there a roof over your head? Is there a bit of money in your bank account? Is there enough food to feed yourself and your family today? Are you currently symptom free? Any or all of these are great reasons to be grateful. I am so very grateful for two friends who dropped everything to track down a roof leak and fix it yesterday!
- Use common sense precautions. You know them already. Wash your hands whenever you come in from any outing. Maintain “social distancing.” Practice air-hugs!
- Get outside for at least 30 minutes per day. Go for a walk around the block. Pull a few weeds. Trim dead branches off of a tree. Sit in your patio chair and read a novel. Breathe deeply. But get outside!
- Take extra Vitamin C with bioflavonoids to support your immune system. Some doctors recommend 2000-3000 mgs extra during this stressful time.
- Eat real food. Chips, colas and cookies are not real food. Prepare a warm meal, even if it’s only soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Staples are in short supply in many stores, but fresh produce is abundant. Last night I roasted some fresh veggies in the oven. The result satisfied my body and my soul’s need for comfort. (Toss fresh veggies and cut up potatoes in oil and garlic powder, salt and pepper. Roast at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. The last few minutes I added two flounder filets. Yum!)
- Pray for inspiration about how to spend your house-bound time. One desperate woman with small children had them draw pictures that they then posted to their fence for the neighbors to admire. Children across the street reciprocated with art projects of their own! A friend is using this time to sort through all the artifacts saved from her son’s childhood. She’s creating the memory albums she’s had on her to-do list for years! I’m piecing together a very complicated quilt pattern in between seeing clients online and working on a presentation coming up.
- Frequently send compassion to yourself, your family and our world. We all need extra measures of grace during this unprecedented and unpredictable time.
- Vent your frustrations safely, away from your partner or children. Call a ‘time out’ on yourself while you close yourself in your bedroom and beat a pillow. Write out your frustrations in a journal. Bake a hearty loaf of bread and knead it for 15 minutes before letting it rise to bake. Make a list of activities to keep you and your children engaged. Learn a new game. Start a jigsaw puzzle. Any of these or many more options other than taking your fear and anxiety out on those you love!
You have my compassion as you do your best to deal with the uncertainties we have in abundance right now.
