With all the fear and uncertainty swirling around us right now, self-care is the most important thing you can do for yourself right now. If you're older and/or in a high risk group, it can also mean the difference between life or death.
This crisis reminds me of the quote by John Lennon: “Life is what happens while you’re making other plans.” We like to think we’re in control of our lives but ultimately we’re not. There are bigger forces at work in the Universe and in order to survive we need to learn how to ride out the storms of life.
For many, this crisis will be a wake-up call. Even the best laid plans and most secure seeming lives can be uprooted in an instant. Buddha said, “The problem is you think you have time.” Many of us live our lives like it’s a dress rehearsal and put off truly living.
In the words of poet Mary Oliver, “This is our one and only precious life.” Do not take anything or anyone for granted as they could be gone tomorrow. It’s up to you to put the life in your moments. Begin to do so now.
How to Cope
People who have food and weight issues often suffer from anxiety, black and white thinking, and catastrophizing, and these times will really exacerbate these tendencies.
Without a good self-care plan in place, people will turn to poor substitutes: sugar, overeating, alcohol, even drugs. Even though these things may bring temporary relief, they will hurt your immunity, make you susceptible to illness, and make matters even worse in the long run.
Anxiety and stress can trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response, which increases cortisol levels and alters immune system responses, so it’s important to learn ways to keep these in check.
With life slowing down around us, now is the time to learn some new ways of caring for yourself. Here are some suggestions and resources to help your mind, body, and spirit cope in these trying times.
1. Take vitamins and probiotics to help boost your immune system.
2. Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated.
3. Get plenty of exercise as this boosts your immunity and reduces anxiety and boosts your mood.
4. Make sure you get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep weakens your immune system.
5. Reduce your sugar intake and intake of highly processed foods as these weaken your immune system. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole foods. Eat from the rainbow to get a variety of nutrients.
6.Meditate to reduce anxiety and to relax and calm your body. I’ve included links here to 4 excellent youtube videos teaching various techniques to help you stay calm.
7.If you have a spiritual practice, now is the time to lean heavily on it. Pray often.
8. Practice gratitude. Do you have a roof over your head? Food to eat? Running water? A job? Many in the world don’t. Count your blessings every day and try to find the silver lining in your circumstances. What productive things can you be doing if you find yourself with time on your hands? Now is the time to tackle those projects that you have been putting
off.
9. Limit your intake of the news to once or twice a day max. Constantly seeking updates will only ratchet up your anxiety.
10. Now is the time to take up a hobby. Try adult style coloring books, or crafting or painting, study geneology, or any other hobby that can help you relax and put your focus on something else. When I paint, I completely enter another realm and all my worries melt away. Or try taking a class online in a subject that has always interested
you.
11. Seek regular contact over the phone, Skype, or Facetime with friends and family.
12. Join a support group. Get weekly or daily support through a Facebook group or some other online group. My How You do Food is How you do Life Group Coaching program starts tomorrow night and I have shaved $100 off the price of the course. It’s now $195 doe 12 weeks of support and learning. You will learn how to eliminate emotional eating, implement a
self-care routine, and learn many different ways to cope with your thoughts, emotions, and self-limiting beliefs.
For more information and to sign up click here.
I hope you have found these suggestions helpful and will create a daily plan to incorporate them. Remember, this too shall pass. Focus on living in the moment and getting through it one day at a time. Do not play out worst case scenarios in your mind. Stay focused on what you can do each day to make it safe, pleasurable, and meaningful.
Stay safe and be well!
