I’ve never been one to obsessively check the news, but when Covid hit I got into a bad habit of doing so as soon as I woke up. My mind became cloudy and my days began with anxiety, fear, sadness and hopelessness. Those emotions became my normal state and combined with the fact I couldn’t leave my apartment, made for a mental health disaster.
Something had to change. I made a hard rule that I wouldn’t read the news for the first two hours or the last two hours of the day. I know (for me anyway) that it is critical I discipline my mind otherwise it can slip into a darkness that can feel unrecoverable. And once I’m in that state, I am useless to myself and to the world.
Yes it is important to be aware of current events, especially right now. It’s necessary really. But we can’t put mental health on the back burner in the process. Don’t ever feel guilty for making your mental health a priority. It doesn’t make you selfish or wrong. Some of the greatest warriors in history knew the importance of mental health. In fact, much of their strength came from their ability to tap into their mental power.
How to do this will look different for everyone but for me this means starting my morning by:
~ Setting aside a minimum of 15 minutes for meditation
~ Writing
~ Practicing gratitude
~ Practicing visualization
~ Being in nature
~ Reading (actual books, not just articles on my phone)
These simple shifts in how I start my day make all the difference for me. I think of it as laying a solid foundation. With this foundation, I’m better equipped to handle what comes my way. I make rational decisions rather than reactive emotional ones.
I also find I’m able to focus more externally because my internal work is in check.
Again, don’t let others dictate how you “should” be right now. Only you get to decide that. The greatest gift you can give to the world, especially in a time of crisis, is to be the best YOU.
Mental health matters. Period.