Breakouts. Teeth grinding. Insomnia.
These are just some of the symptoms of anxiety that we at The Story Exchange reported experiencing during a recent editorial-meeting tangent. Folks, we are stressed – and we’re not alone. Who can blame any of us, when the swirl of chaos seems to only intensify? As of publishing this, it’s only Tuesday, yet we are already contemplating wars, economic woes and the Trump Administration’s ever-ongoing push for women’s regression. Not to mention the ever-worsening, ever present specter of climate change.
As we mark Mental Health Awareness Month, we find ourselves very much aware of the importance of mental health on our overall wellbeing. Every week seems to maintain this breakneck pace of breaking news about erosions of human rights, infrastructures and protective norms. While staying informed is critical, perpetually keeping oneself swimming in the realities of our troubled world will only lead to burnout.
That’s why, after lamenting our assorted maladies and collective sleep deprivation, we also discussed how we decompress and re-center ourselves. Below, we’ve detailed five informal “rules” born of our conversation that have assisted us in maintaining our sanity amid … y’know, everything.
No news after 9 p.m. – ever. (Credit: Steve Johnson, Pexels)
No news after 9 p.m. — ever.
It can be rather difficult to set one’s phone aside. But electing to end our days by staring directly into a rectangle of bright light that delivers a steady stream of bad news is hardly ideal. One colleague has broken free of its trance, and has experienced far more peaceful evenings and better nights of rest as a result. (I personally deleted all forms of social media from my phone, exchanging a scrolling habit for a journaling one, and have unquestionably felt better for doing so. The alerts still come through, but it’s not nearly as immersive an experience.)
Absolutely enjoy some garbage. (Credit: cottonbro studio, Pexels)
Absolutely enjoy some garbage.
Turn on your television and turn off your brain. Some in-house suggestions for what to watch include sexually charged thriller “You” on Netflix; a “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” marathon, for those seeking a weekend indulgence (girl, the tariffs – we must recalibrate what indulgence can look like); or a re-broadcast of a “Fast and Furious” movie, since scientifically speaking, one is airing at basically any given moment.
Create – it’s a balm. (Credit: Pixabay, Pexels)
Create — it’s a balm.
Folks on The Story Exchange team have undertaken crocheting, baking, gardening and painting to occupy their racing minds, and have found calm in the moments when their hands and minds are occupied by the tasks at hand. Gardening, one staffer noted, serves as both “a soothing exercise, and also a hopeful metaphor about how things may wither and die, but they can also burst back to life.” Slower activities like painting, meanwhile, can teach us patience and faith in the process, another employee said. Or, you can join a community or church choir – after all, anyone can sing, and absolutely should, if they so desire.
Love and tend to your body. (Credit: Daniel Reche, Pexels)
Love and tend to your body.
There is solace and grounding to be found in movement. Bringing our consciousness back to our bodies can also be quite an effective way to turn out the world beyond ourselves, if only for a little while. Early-morning stretches, running jags, long walks (on the beach, yes, but parks and city streets will work nicely, too, for these purposes), mani-pedis and massages have all helped to distract and energize us. After paying some real attention to our physical forms, we find that “both our minds and bodies feel relieved,” as one of us described it.
Be with people – and pets – you love. (Credit: Kaboompics.com, Pexels)
Be with people — and pets — you love.
Talking and coordinating with members of our community about how best to fight back is, of course, key to an effective resistance movement. But sometimes, it’s best to dig into enjoying one another’s company. (And if anything, this practice can serve as a fantastic reminder of why we must fight for one another.) So sync up with old pals with whom you can reminisce, joke freely – and collectively avoid political discourse for an hour or two. Or, pick up your favorite furry friend, live or stuffed, for a simple snuggle. We at The Story Exchange are a cat-loving crew, but any fuzzy, cuddly companion will do.
