8 Ways to be Kind to Yourself Right Now
A few days ago, I found myself stress-scrolling through Twitter while devouring every tweet, opinion, and link regarding news of the ongoing nationwide protests, and any updates about the Covid-19 Pandemic, while gobbling down handful after handful of chocolate covered popcorn.
That’s when it dawned on me — there has to be a better way to cope with the chaos in this world.
For most of us, life has been a bit gray, foggy, and challenging to navigate over the last few months. When people fight in wars, they call this the fog of war. Wars are usually mapped out and soldiers are trained for what to expect.
But once bombs start flying, no one is quite prepared for the confusion or fogginess that takes over. That is the fog of war. Right now we are living through the fog of Covid-19. We aren’t sure what to expect or what will come next. Most of us are holding our breath, praying it won’t get worse.
(And hurricane season started June 1st, so keep your fingers crossed, if you live anywhere near the east coast of the United States.)
Even if you, like me, were one of the people that carefully planned your goals for 2020, or had a five-year plan for your business, life, or finances, no one could’ve been properly prepared for the fallout that the virus would bring.
Of course, in addition to the terror of a novel virus, we have nationwide unrest and economic turmoil, and for many of us, there’s really no end in sight.
That is where the world is now.
So, while the world is trying to recover, I thought we should take a minute and tell ourselves, that it’s okay to not be okay.
If you’re having some trouble concentrating this week — or this month, that’s okay.
If you’re feeling emotional or confused, that’s okay.
If your house looks a bit worse than a college frat house after pledge weekend, that’s okay.
If you don’t remember the last time you actually remembered to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer, that’s okay.
If your Uber Eats delivery driver knows you (and your Burger King Whopper with cheese order) by heart, that’s okay.
If you’ve not managed to write a book, lose 50 pounds, run a marathon, learn a new language or code an app while in quarantine — you’re normal — and that’s truly okay.
Eventually, this will pass, and we will find our way to the other side. But until then, be kind to yourself and others.
Here are eight other ways you can be kind to yourself
1. Find shortcuts to avoid creating chores
Even though we are all avoiding housework these days, there are few shortcuts that we could take to cut down on the chores that are piling up.
For example, when possible, use paper plates and plastic cutlery to avoid dirty dishes sitting in the sink for days. You might decide on a couple of “outfits” that you can rotate so that you don’t need to put away clothes each day or do laundry each week.
If you can create a few simple shortcuts like these right now, it will make coping with the stress of what’s not in your control easier.
2. Reduce your news consumption
It’s easy to feel like you should stay up-to-date on all the news about the protests and the pandemic, and then feel a little guilty if you tune out.
Not only is it okay to say you can’t handle it right now, but recent studies have shown that consuming just three minutes of bad news makes you 27% more likely to say you’ve had a bad day! So, you might find that you’ll have a better day if you focus your attention elsewhere too.
3. Do things you enjoy
Think about the things that bring you joy, and be sure that you do them. If you love sitting outside with your morning coffee, do that. If you enjoy walking your dog and listening to music, do that.
You don’t need to sit still and practice meditation to experience self-compassion. You can listen to music, dance to your favorite song, read a book, video chat with friends and loved ones, or play games with family members.
4. Open your windows & curtains
A little sunlight and fresh air can indeed help us to feel better, both mentally and physically. In fact, experts say fresh air even helps reduce exposure to Covid-19!
“Opening your windows has an important benefit of increasing the turnover of air in the house,” said Dr. Richard Ellison III, an epidemiologist at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.
So go ahead and open your windows, let the sunshine in to bring you happiness and health!
5. Schedule a virtual chat with friends
When the lockdown first started, and the idea of being stuck in our homes was sort of novel, many people started creating different things to do virtually with friends and family. But, as the lockdown continued, the excitement around virtual house parties and virtual family game nights decreased, which caused many people to start feeling the isolation more intensely.
If you have started to feel more disconnected from your social group, use one of the many apps available to connect with your friends. Schedule a virtual happy hour, or a trivia night. Or just schedule a phone call to catch up. (And try not to focus on what is happening in the world when you do!)
6. Listen to music & make a playlist that makes you happy
Music makes us feel so much better. Since it feels like the world is in chaos, find the type of music that makes you happy and put it on repeat.
Hop on Spotify and make a playlist with your fave songs. Spotify will even help you discover new artists and songs that are similar to your tastes so that you can keep adding to your playlists.
You can also make a group playlist, invite your friends and ask them to add some of their favorites too! A group playlist will let you connect others while possibly helping you discover some new uplifting music. We created a relaxing playlist for you to get you started: Hio & Chill Playlist
7. Watch something uplifting
If you are wanting to take a break from trying to work, consider watching something a bit more uplifting than the news. Find something that can entertain or inspire, so that you can zone out from what’s going on in the world for a few minutes.
Here is a collection of inspiring videos from Lifehack. If you’d rather just laugh, here is a hilarious video of animals interacting with people at the zoo.
8. Practice diaphragm breathing
Deep and measured breaths can immediately begin to slow your heart rate and change your mental state. Whether the tension you’re feeling comes from the relentless news cycle, your ever-present spouse sitting on the couch, or the mounting loads of laundry, that increase in stress can wreak havoc on your day and your mindset.
Practicing deep breathing at the start or end of your day can affect your overall mood and outlook positively. If you feel you need a little guidance to get started, try a meditation app that will walk you through breathing exercises. Calm and Ten Percent Happier both offer free versions of their apps for new users.
When you join either app, look for a breathing exercise that will help you learn diaphragm breathing
Back to you
Right now, the world is a bit of a murky place. We’re all unsure what to expect next, so be kind to yourself. It’s okay if you find yourself struggling to focus or being less productive. Be as gentle with yourself as you would be with others. Take breaks, breath, laugh, chat with a friend, and take heart; and remember that all this chaos won’t last forever!
