The pandemic has shifted my life and fundamentally changed, the person I am. At the beginning of quarantine, I found myself in a very dark place. It was a journey to lift myself from the abyss of my feelings. It was a journey to separate myself from feelings that were not as positive as I would like to think I am. I was disappointed in myself for feeling this way and for shutting down the feelings I had for such a long time. When I tell my kids about my time in quarantine I am still not sure how I will explain to them what I felt, or if it will even matter in a few years. Almost seven months later I find myself with a new idea of the person I am. This journey has been very spiritual for me and I am still battling with the ups and downs that come from being stuck in what seems to be a new life.
This semester, I am doing remote learning and it has been a journey to incorporate everything I have learned these months to keep my sanity and happiness in place. It is not easy to feel like you’re stuck in time because instead of living out the “best years of our lives” you are home coping with the world. I want to share three simple tips I incorporated into my routine that have helped me bring some life into my days while being back home. If like me, you are doing remote learning this semester, just know that you are not alone. It is a lonely road and some days may seem better than others but you are not alone. Regardless of where you may find yourself right now, collectively, these are trying times for everyone and it is important to separate ourselves from what we may see on social media.
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GRATITUDE
Something that I have found to be extremely helpful is to take at least three minutes of my morning and dedicate them to finding 10 things I am grateful for. It is easy to lose track of the very valuable privileges and blessings we have when we are stuck in a low vibrational mindset. Taking these moments to find in our minds those things and people that bring us joy and that we have the blessings to have in our lives, help us remain present. Keep a journal next to your bed and when you find yourself lost or stressed, start writing all the mental chatter in the paper. I promise this will bring you at least some mental clarity.
2. SEE SOCIAL MEDIA FROM AN OBJECTIVE LENSE
Seeing everyone have fun and appear to be living their best lives hurts our self-worth and self-esteem even if we don’t want to admit it. Even if it may be a cliche notion by now, everyone puts only their best on social media and while a story or a post might trigger us to think that we are doing less and are, therefore less, this is not true. Taking a break from social media is crucial for our mental health. Personally, this comes in waves for me. One week I am completely done and over social media but other weeks I can’t seem to get off my phone. Social media may not be the problem in its entirety but the way we use it, for sure is. Be mindful of your scrolling and your thoughts while doing so. Be kind to yourself and remember, it is not real life.
3. TAKE TIME TO ENJOY YOURSELF
Go for a walk, read a book, read some articles, or pamper yourself. Make sure that even when this is all over you still have some moments of peace and tranquility to remember with love. Be there for yourself because only you know what makes you happy. Only you can know how to make yourself feel better when you are not your brightest. Be there for yourself.
Whatever you do, remember that you deserve to feel happy and that you deserve to feel whole. If you are not feeling so bright, reach out to a kind person that can take some time to hear what you’re feeling. When we are at a low point, we sometimes blind ourselves to the realities of our situation. We will always remain the number one commander of our lives and our destinies. If your situation gets too hard and you can’t seem to lift yourself up, reaching out for professional help is always a positive and admirable thing to do. Remember, you are loved.
If you or someone you know needs emergency assistance, contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.