We are living in unprecedented times. Having an election during a pandemic while the postal service is going through a rough time and mail-in ballots coming in late is a mess and a half. This election lasted three days (possibly more when we consider all of the early voting across the nation), and now various states are announcing a recount. It is stressful and overwhelming, to say the least; it truly takes a toll on an individual. We have been through so much between the pandemic and the election; taking some time for yourself and checking in to see what you need is something we all should be doing right now. Self-care can be anything that makes you feel better, whether that be going for a run or watching an entire season of your comfort show.
- Stepping Away From The News
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After being glued to the polling results for 72 hours, it is perfectly okay to just ignore the news and the media for the sake of your mental health. You do not have to be political every second of your life. It isn’t rational. We have been inundated with anger and spiteful words each and every day; it can make one anxious and angry. Stepping away from the news can be such an amazing feeling. Sometimes you don’t even realize how stress-inducing the media can be until you step back.
- Check in on You
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Take some time to breathe and see how you are doing. Reflect and see what you need during this time. Maybe you need to step back from your family because of political affiliations. That is something that no one should make you feel bad about. Family can be overwhelming enough without bringing political beliefs into it. Maybe you want to treat yourself to your favorite restaurant. Whatever it is you do, do something that makes you happy, even if that means doing nothing.
- Remember Self Care Isn’t Selfish
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For some reason, there is this stigma around self-care being selfish and unnecessary, which is completely untrue. It is extremely important to take care of yourself beyond just the basic needs (sleep, food and water, to name a few). Self-care is something you should do every day, even if it is just giving yourself a break between your daily responsibilities. In this day and age, we are expected to keep working constantly and that falling behind should not be a choice.
We saw this at the beginning of quarantine when people were looked down upon when they watched Netflix instead of finding a new hobby or exercising. Now there is nothing wrong with finding new hobbies or exercising instead of watching TV. The problem lies when you hold yourself up to other people’s standards or tear down other people for doing what they enjoy. You taking care of yourself is independent from what others think of you.
There is this TedTalk I like that Jessica Brubaker gives where she talks about self-care. She rationalizes self-care and gives many reasons why checking in on yourself is so important. As someone who does not always take care of themselves and needs to rationalize every decision I make, this TedTalk definitely helped me.
This year, the pandemic, the election, the social upheaval, has taken a toll on everyone. You are not alone in the way you feel, and it is perfectly okay to take some time. It is not only okay but a truly good thing to break away from all that makes us anxious, sad and angry. Self-care helps everyone. It is also important that you don’t wait until your breaking point to take care of yourself emotionally. Your emotional needs are just as important as your physical needs, so take a moment and breathe.