Self Care During Covid-19

During these scary and uncertain times, many of us have been experiencing a certain amount of worry, discomfort, or anxiety. In many cases, these feelings may be heightened, or they could be very new and overwhelming. It is important to recognize that we are not alone in these feelings. Many of us are experiencing this and for good reason. Our lives have changed drastically in the blink of an eye and many of us are going through financial stress, working from home, homeschooling our kids, and isolating ourselves from those that we may find dear to us. This is a stressful time. The important thing is that, once we come to terms and recognize this, we actively try to find ways to attend to our mental health. Through therapy, I've been given a lot of tips on ways I can manage my own anxiety and, I would love to share some of those things

Online/Mobile Therapy Apps - The digital age has brought us the convenience of many different mobile therapy apps. There are some well-known apps such as Talkspace for and LiveHealth Online that are available for download on both Android and Apple devices. With these apps you can check in with an actual therapist to get the help you need. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking with someone, there are also apps to help you manage your stress through, breathing, meditation, positive affirmations, and cognitive behavioral therapy exercises. Apps such as Calm and Headspace offer a variety of meditation and sleep aids using sleep sounds and white noise. There is an abundance of these apps, so you should do your research and find the app that best fits what your needs and what you are comfortable with doing.

Virtual Therapy Sessions – This has been one of my personal methods of self-help. If you already have your own personal therapist or are looking for a more personal touch, but still want to maintain social distancing, many therapists offer video tele-conferencing. That way, you can look your therapist in the eyes and get the personal comfort of talking to your therapist face to face. Even if you don’t already have a therapist, many practices are still taking on new patients and offer virtual visits. Many employers offer employee assistance programs where you can get your first few therapy sessions for free. So be sure to check with your HR department to see if this is offered.

Journaling – I personally have found journaling to be VERY therapeutic. It gives me the opportunity to organize my day and process my thoughts. Every night, before I go to sleep, I write down the things that are on my mind to do the next day and the things that have been worrying me or given me anxiety that day. I know this may seem tedious or superficial but, it allows me to prioritize my day and process and purge the things that stress me. Then, as I get things done on my list, I can cross them off and feel like I have accomplished something. A tiny little triumph. Trust me, it’s worth it. It even gives you a reason to buy a cute little journal…. No? That’s just me? Ok…lets move on.

Exercise/Meditation/Walks – Keeping our bodies in motion can help us to relieve stress, blow off steam, and release endorphins. All these things trigger positive feelings in the body. Gyms are closed right now, but there are man ways to exercise in your home whether you are using your own personal exercise equipment or items found in the home. Youtube also offers a variety of different workout routines at different levels of physical capability. Body Project is a great channel to find workouts at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Mediation and Yoga are another great way to not only decompress your mind but condition your body. If fresh air is what you crave, take a walk around the block. Find a local nature trail. Take your kids to the park. As long you continue to practice social distancing, wash your hands, and sanitize surfaces that you encounter, you can enjoy the nature around you.

Normalcy - Last, but not least, try to engage in things that keep you safe but feel somewhat normal. Have a movie night. Do video calls with your family. Play board games. Do a little online retail therapy. Do some fun and frivolous things that take your mind of the stress of the world.

The most important factor here, is that we take time to better our mind body and spirit. We are going to get through this one day and we want to do whatever we can to be our best selves. Love and take care of yourself!