How to Prioritize Your Wellbeing In the Midst of….Everything

I started writing this blog last week.

But by mid-week, I had multiple anxiety attacks and spent the majority of one work day crying as I crafted emails and sent meeting requests.

I don’t share that to garner sympathy.

I share it because I feel that some of us - myself included - need to be reminded that are not alone in our current struggles.

On any other day in more “normal” circumstances, it would still be challenging to prioritize our own wellbeing. We are, after all, human beings with human lives filled with human responsibilities and challenges - as well as human joys.

But add in today’s current events to all those human things? Yeah, it’s no wonder we’re struggling.

So, where do we go from here?

Well, I originally had a write out of all different sorts of research-backed ways of supporting our wellbeing. And, as great as those ours, if someone had shown me that list last week, I would’ve told them to fuck off.

So instead, I decided to scrap all of that and share the small things I did last week that helped me get through. And yes, almost all of these are all still research-based, but I made them much more human-friendly :-)

Put Down the Phone

If feasible, put your phone on Do Not Disturb and put it away. Distance yourself from social media, technology, and the overstimulation of notifications.

If that’s not feasible, limit it as much as you can. Silence notifications - including pop-ups - and use it as in-frequently as possible.

I promise you it isn’t helping.

Take a Breath

Our breath helps our nervous system regulate itself. And it’s common for us to be so stressed that our breath changes without us even realizing.

Box breathing is a wonderful technique that I regularly use to re-center myself and bring my focus back to the present.

Imagine a box. Every side of that box is the equivalent of 4 counts.

Imagine moving up one side of the box, and use that 4 counts to inhale.

Then imagine moving across the top side of the box, and use that 4 counts to hold your inhale.

Next, move down the other side of the box, and use that 4 counts to exhale.

Final side of the box is holding the exhale for 4 counts.

And then begin again up the first side of the box and your 4 count inhale.

Notice What’s Working and What Isn’t

I move my body every day. Yes, there are physical benefits to this, but I do it more for the mental and emotional regulation.

Last week, I was mid-movement when I realized that it was not working for me. In fact, it was making me feel worse.

So I stopped.

No guilt, no pushing through.

Get Some Fresh Air

It doesn’t matter if it’s for 60 minutes or 60 seconds.

Get outside.

Breathe fresh air.

If you can’t get outside, look at a picture of nature. Research shows that even looking at nature can help you feel more at ease.

Give Yourself Permission to Pause

Stressing yourself out because you aren’t performing at the caliber you’ve come to expect from yourself is not going to make anything better.

I’m a chronic over-achiever, and I pride myself in doing ALL. OF. THE. THINGS. So pausing is very hard for me.

But pushing through when you aren’t in the right mindset to do so will only get you so far before you can’t push through anymore.

Pause. Take a beat.

It will help you be better in the long run.

Ask for Help

Reach out to a friend, colleague, partner, family member, dog, etc.

Tell someone you’re struggling.

If you don’t have someone you trust or feel comfortable having that conversation with, contact 988 Lifeline.

“At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be difficult. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.”

Remember that You’re Human

Humans have feelings. It’s what distinguishes us from robots.