Shut it down

Are you getting tired of hearing, "tough times", "we are in a time of chaos" and "COVID-19"? I am! How do we shut down all these frustrations and stressors we are encountering?

We see the reopening of establishments from restaurants to the salon, but some of us have not opened ourselves to these changes because honestly, I am not sure if I am even ready to book an appointment for my hair and eyebrow threading. Some of us are not emotionally ready to venture out to some needed appointments that did not have in the last three months. The fear and anxiety remain. I am still worried that the number of cases is going to increase. Especially now that places are opening slowly. Restrictions are lifted slowly. The guidelines are still followed, but I am scared that I might be doing my part to not be a part of the statistics yet the people are around me are becoming reckless.

You can now increase your bubble, meet a friend!

My anxiety is growing every day, and it is just compounded by the stress at work with family asking about when are they able to visit their loved ones. Part of the trepidation I am having is the changing guidelines that I will encounter once we reach Phase 3 of the Restart Plan. So the question lies with how are you doing right now? Many people will have varied answers. Right now other parts of the world are plagued by awful politics and poor leadership. I could not imagine what the people are feeling right now, a very good example is the United States. Going back to the question, are you feeling 100%, right now? 50% or barely functioning at 20%? We need to assess ourselves as to where we are because it is important to identify whether you are on the verge of collapsing or have the preparedness to tackle this new normal we have. Also, asking what I can do when I am not at 100% every day.

It is easy to say, "I should stop complaining, I have a job because some were laid off." I do it myself but by not attending to our emotional needs we are exposing ourselves to being more vulnerable to isolation and depression. We are not going to look for a happy medium here. We are going to look at how we are going to acknowledge these feelings and still be able to function. I know that it will not always be 100% but we have to remember that the very first step is acknowledgment. I acknowledge for myself this week, that I am not going to own shit that I do not need to own. Not my backyard, not my circus. If things will have to wait on the list, then it will have to wait until someone works on it. Identify the gaps, so you can get back to 100%.

The people around us can also be a source of our frustration, but it is not worth stressing ourselves with other people's shortcomings and inefficiencies. Getting frustrated is always the easy route for some people but how do we avoid it is our task. Go back to being curious and not wearing other people's mistakes. Being reactive is not going to solve our problem. Talk about your feelings, a friend would be helpful in order to unpack those difficult emotions. You can increase your bubble now so an in-person meeting is possible. Counselors and psychologists are also a good resource with all these emotional upheavals we are confronting.

I acknowledge for myself this week, that I am not going to own shit that I do not need to own. Not my backyard, not my circus.

News, social media, conspiracy theories, and conversation circles can also bring stress. We need to rethink how we use our time wisely. Do you let your phone updates you with daily news? Does twitter dings every time there is a tragic event in your area? You need to modify how you receive news. We have phone settings that we can look into, so we can limit our news intake and our screen time. Find a reliable news source and let it be the one news outlet for yourself and your family. Too much information can lead to info-xication. Fear-mongering is out there as well but we have to be strategic with how we digest and retain information. Do not overwatch and do not overwhelm yourself.

The loss of normal is going to be a part of our daily lives in the next few months. We have to remember the adage, "Health is wealth."Exercise in whatever way or form you are doing it, continue it. Yoga, weights, running, hiking, jogging, walking, and I see the jumping rope is becoming more popular. Any of those will do. Eat a balanced diet. The amount of baking I see on social media, I already diagnosed me with diabetes. Healthy meals are still the way to go, so we have a bigger fighting chance for any illness that will attack our body. We will have a better immune response if we are cautious with what we eat and what we do.

This chaos is not ending yet, but we need to shut down things that are not going to help us in the long run.