ARE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY STAYING HEALTHY AND WELL DURING THE PANDEMIC CRISIS?
This unprecedented time of COVID-19 and worldwide pandemic has been extremely tough, on so many levels. Families and households continue to be disrupted, people continue to lose jobs, and homes; many businesses continue to close their doors and others continue to struggle wondering how they can make it, keep their staff, keep their doors open, and keep pivoting as the protocol and seasons change. And there are still unknowns as we move into the vaccine phase.
Millions of children, as young as Preschool, are participating in online learning, many sitting for long hours, with short breaks, isolated, often alone, and bored, with little social contact. In other cases, children are sitting in busy households trying to find space to learn and focus each day.
Times are still hard.
In situations that still seem out of our control, how do we continue to find balance and peace, not only for ourselves, but for those we love and care about? The answer is not simple nor straightforward. But there are some tips we can apply to help move us through and manage the stresses of this continued new normal. Let’s take a look.
TIP # 1: RELEASE WHAT YOU ARE UNABLE TO CONTROL.
To make it through this time and sustain my mental/physical energy and health, I have scaled back and released control of many things. This is especially true for items that are just unessential right now. I have reduced expectations for myself (and for my family), and no longer strive for A+ work 100% of the time. Instead, I focus intently on making it through each day with peace, resilience, a keen awareness, and a positive mindset, being mindful that each day is unpredictable and still volatile.
During this time, it’s important to take care of ourselves first and foremost and leave unreasonable expectations behind. To do this, we need to keep our health in check and move forward at a sustainable pace that works for each of us (and for our families). Everyone’s pace is different, and your pace will change each day, depending on what’s going on within your household and all around you. Take on one day at a time and move through each day with focus and grace. We are human, and only have so much energy to utilize. This is a fact.
Our energy, both mental and physical, can only take us so far. Release what seems unessential right now; release what you are unable to control during this time.
TIP # 2 TAKE IT DAY BY DAY.
To limit stress in my day, with my family and in my business, I am constantly checking in with myself and trying to set reasonable goals and expectations for each day. I also try not to get disappointed if I do not get everything accomplished for that day. Each day, I create a “to do” list of my priority items, and a few “extras” if the time allows. I try hard to only focus on this list and remind myself to practice patience and understanding. Then, when a spontaneous shift in my schedule arrives, I can adapt with more ease, as I am prepared. During this time, we need to be adaptable and flexible. Limit your stress and any potential overwhelm by checking in with yourself regularly and taking things day by day. And as each day blends into the next, I try to break it up by applying a quote Brendon Burchard often shares─ to “feel the day.” I try to practice feeling each day, so the days do not blend into one another, but instead stand out and feel more fulfilling. This has been helpful.
TIP # 3 HAVE OPEN, ONGOING CONVERSATIONS.
I try to have ongoing conversations with friends and family, and with my twelve-year-old son, so we can each check in, share how we are doing on any given day. I have found it beneficial to get things out, connect, share our stories, struggles, challenges, and our need for help, advice, or a pick-me-up.
While this time is tough, there are still good things happening around us. And I love hearing happy, positive, success stories. It gives me tremendous joy, inspiration and reminds me that there are still good and wonderful things happening around us, even when it’s really, really tough.
TIP # 4: DO NOT GO AT IT ALONE. REACH OUT. ASK FOR HELP.
In today’s world, we are often quick to glorify the strong and independent. However, we were not made to be isolated and do it alone.
I have gotten much better at asking for help when I need it, from friends, neighbors, my husband, and my son. I simply cannot go at it alone. It is important to reach out for help. Talk with others about how you are coping, your struggles, what you need during this time. And if technology is the only option, connect through technology if you are feeling isolated. Join trusted and reputable support groups to get lifted or re-inspired. Leverage virtual therapy resources like talkspace─ they are reachable 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. We need to rely on people and resources now more than ever. It’s also important to have honest, open conversations if we are going to work through and process this time in a healthy manner. There is no benefit in burying our struggles or isolating ourselves. And you are not alone; we are all struggling together. And our stories are likely not that different.
You can also seek out help and inspiration through support centers, church communities, reputable Facebook and Instagram communities, and telehealth therapists. There are many resources available to help you navigate through this time. And let’s not forget the abundance of FREE self-help, personal growth, and inspirational podcasts and resources available to us. Here are some of my go-tos: Brendon Burchard’s Facebook Live growthday morning show (Monday through Friday 7:30am -8:00am PST) is free, outstanding, and an immense benefit to anyone who listens in. And if you need morning inspiration or a pick-me-up, THIS is your show. Brene’ Brown’s Unlocking Us. I highly recommend a listen to Brene’s episode about Burnout; Sara Dean of The Shameless Mom Academy. I highly recommend a listen to Sara’s Episode # 488 titled “It’s Ok If You’re Tired; Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday, The Brendon Burchard Show and Jay Shetty On Purpose. I also found this list “20 Best Self-Help Podcasts to Listen to in 2020.” I have not personally checked them all out, but they seem to cover a range of self-help topics, from procrastination and anxiety/depression to grieving and major life changes.
TIP # 5 BE KIND, BE HELPFUL, BE OPEN.
I always try to be kind, helpful and open when I am out and about. It’s who I am at my core. It is a bit harder to show it these days with social distancing and a mask on, but we can still show acts of kindness. And people can tell when you break a smile under that mask. A smile also goes a long way.
And while we are socially distanced, you can still buy the person behind you, in the drive-thru, or at the walk-up window, a cup of coffee, a treat, or a meal. Actually, not long ago, this happened to me. I was in the Starbucks drive-thru. The line was quite long as the wait. My turn finally came to pick up my coffee and breakfast sandwich. The cashier told me that the car in front of me had paid for my entire order. I was stunned. It came out of nowhere!
I started to question, “Do I know this person? Why did they do that?” That was so kind, generous, unexpected. When I drove away, I ended up sitting behind the generous person at a red stoplight. I wanted to hop out of my car quickly to say, “thank you.” Instead, I gave a “thank you” wave from my driver’s seat; he or she waved back. I was touched and grateful for that act of kindness, and it brightened the rest of my day.
TIP # 6. FACE THIS TIME HEAD ON, AND REFRAIN FROM SUGAR COATING.
Early on when COVID hit and for many months after, I kept powering through with all responsibilities, doing my best, working extra, EXTRA hard, seldom feeling, venting, or complaining. I didn’t think I had the right to vent or complain when so many around me, in our country, in our world, were struggling way more than I was.
I held my struggles in, until one day, about six months into COVID, I ran into an acquaintance whom I had not seen since the onset of the pandemic. We started talking and shared… a lot! It was the most freeing moment for me. We shared our struggles, the state of things, our mental, physical, emotional exhaustion, managing our home life during this time, and our defeat for having no answers. I realized from that moment that we are all grieving, and it is important to share and release our grief─ no matter the level or magnitude of it.
This is not the time to act like everything is going well. Be honest with yourself and with others, do not hide or sugar coat your struggles as I had done early on. It did not serve me well.
If we do not face our struggles with honesty, we are going to see more long-term damage, in the form of depression, suicide, PTSD, addictions, anxiety and isolation ─ across all ages and generations. By facing our struggles head on, we can work through them and come out way better on the other end. We deserve this─ our kids, our families, everyone deserves this.
TIP # 7: KEEP YOUR OVERINDULGENCES IN CHECK.
I can drink a good glass of wine no problem. And sometimes, I can drink two glasses of wine no problem; and sometimes even three. I will say, during this pandemic, I have enjoyed wine a bit more often than I would like. Aside from enjoying wine socially with family and friends, a nice glass of wine has always signaled the wrap-up of a long workday for me, a time to transition into the evening, cook dinner and relax with my family. I have turned to a glass or two of wine a bit more often during COVID. It is all good and fine in the moment, but it does not get me bouncing out of bed in the morning, ready to take on another challenging day.
When we overindulge, it can make us feel good, in the moment, but it is temporary─ never long lasting. Indulging occasionally is fine. But with all the pressures and stresses we are dealing with today, if we over-indulge regularly, we are potentially setting ourselves up with new unhealthy habits or addictions—which can be destructive and hard to recover from.
If you have taken up drinking or drinking more, developing unhealthy eating habits, taking any sort of drugs, online gambling, watching too much pornography, excessive online shopping, or any other vice as a means to cope, please keep these behaviors in check. The last thing any of us need are new addictions and lasting struggles to work through long after COVID passes.
TIP # 8: THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WILL DO WHEN THIS PANDEMIC PASSES.
Incorporate positive distractions. Start thinking about post COVID. What do you want or wish your life to look like? Start visualizing it. Is there anything you can start sketching out now, researching now, for later? What will be at the top of your list, or your top 5 desires when we get our freedom back? Some of my positive distractions include: to plan a socially close gathering with good friends and family, a lot of hugs, go to musicals and live music shows, get my son active again, plan a girlfriend trip, continue to support the wonderful establishments throughout Seattle, visit our cherished friends in Vancouver, B.C., and a bigger ticket item is to revisit Spain.
What about you? Do you want to explore new hobbies? Get married? Travel abroad? When COVID ends, where will you travel first? Who do you most want to see? What are you missing most during this time, that you cannot wait to get back? Do you want to live in the same place, neighborhood, city, state, country? Do you want to start a new business? What will you do differently?
Use this time to escape a little (we sure can use it!), dream, plan for your future. This time will pass. And when it does, we can start chipping away at our lists.
TIP # 9: WE ARE BEING CALLED TO LEARN SOMETHING.
While I would never wish this time on any of us, I do believe this time happened for a reason. And while the reason is not quite clear, I do believe we are all being called to stop, reflect, and learn something. I believe there is a lot to learn from this. So far, this time has taught me the importance of gratitude, relationships (family, friends, community), in-person connection, kindness, affection and to slow down/be more present.
Maybe this time has been trying to teach us to slow down, stop moving so fast letting life and time pass us by. Maybe this time has been trying to teach us that we have been neglecting ourselves, our families, our kids, or that our career or job needs a change. Maybe we need a complete overhaul.
This time may be trying to teach us that we need to do things differently or that our priorities have been out of whack. Have we lost community and connection? Maybe this time is trying to teach us to step back into community, that we are not meant to be alone, isolated, socially distanced. What do you think this time is trying to teach us?
TIP # 10. BE GRATEFUL.
My family and I often share what we are grateful for when we sit down to dinner. I also try to practice gratitude throughout my day, while working, taking a walk, or when things are simply not going well for me. This grounds me and reminds me that even when times are tough, there is still much to appreciate and be thankful for.
Do you practice gratitude? Are you aware of all the good that exists around you today? Try to make a list of things you are grateful for and see what surfaces. It can be extra simple. For example, when I take a walk in my neighborhood, I am grateful for the abundance of nature around me, the colorful trees and plants that line our sidewalks and streets. I am also grateful when we have a sunny day, as the gray days can be tough. I believe this time is calling upon us to start practicing daily gratitude. COVID has stripped us of so much. I feel we are being called to look inward and remember all the things to still be grateful for.
What are you grateful for? How can you bring more gratitude into your life?
==========
Thank you for the read! My name is Heidi Bateh Carlson.
I am the Founder of a Health and Wellness Marketing firm, Carlson Marketing Group.
In addition to running my business, I enjoy publishing inspirational growth content. I am passionate about helping people live healthy and well and live the life they were meant to live. I am not a personal growth expert, but a marketing expert.
At Carlson Marketing Group, our mission is to serve businesses that help people become and stay healthy and well.
If you are a Health and Wellness business in need of marketing help, we would love to connect with you.
Schedule a 30-minute complimentary consult.
We assist businesses wherever they are in their journey, i.e., whether they are just getting going, navigating the daunting maze of marketing, stuck in business and marketing overwhelm, growing their business.
We look forward to you hearing from you!