6 WAYS TO NAVIGATE PANDEMIC STRESS AND EXHAUSTION
When the pandemic first hit, we were saying things like, “we’re all in this together, remember this is temporary, take one day at a time,” now zoom forward several months and you get a lot of folks that are DONE! Depleted. Exhausted. So over it. And yet, no end in sight for the pandemic. To say the least, this extended time of stress and uncertainty is taking its toll!
HERE ARE SOME PRACTICAL WAYS FOR YOU TO KEEP NAVIGATING THESE ROUGH TIMES.
1. ACCEPT NOW IS DIFFERENT: It just is. The more you wish for things to be different, the more distress you feel. Now sucks. And that’s okay. Welcome it as part of being human. (Maybe there is something to learn here?)
2. EXPECT LESS: Life is no longer the same. You are not going to be able to do your job, parenting, and other things at the same capacity as in the past. (Most other people aren’t either, it’s okay.) Slow down. Do less. Go with the “good enough” standard for now.
3. ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR GRIEF: The pandemic has taken so many things from us. Know that you’re grieving all of those losses, others are too. Our collective grief is complicated by the fact that we are grieving things that aren’t necessarily gone forever. We’re struggling with ambiguous loss. Be gentle with yourself and others.
4. USE YOUR GREATEST RESOURCES: Your body and nature. Get outside! Move your body! Exercise. Touch nature. Let it hold you. Sense spirit. Pray. Scream (outside)! Give it up to the world.
5. NURTURE KEY RELATIONSHIPS: For many of us, our social circles have gotten small. That’s okay. It’s a time to evaluate who is most important to us. Where should we invest our energy? (Your energy is limited, choose wisely!)
6. KNOW WHEN TO SEEK SUPPORT: Reach out to family and friends. Join a group. Speak with your doctor. Schedule an appointment with a therapist.
Coriander Living Collective is here to support you with individual and group sessions. Times are tough. Now might be the time to reach out. No need to “go it alone!”
