by Dr. Marita Schauch, ND – Tall Tree Integrated Health Centre –
It’s hard to believe we are coming up to a year since the impact of COVID-19 hit us in such a big way.
We have had to learn to shapeshift and evolve continuously over the last year, and the challenges of that have been great at times. From learning how to use Zoom, to lockdowns, to facemasks, to heated political and human rights issues. It. Has. Been. A. Year.
If there’s one thing that gets us through hard times, it’s cultivating mental resilience. Here are a few ways to do it.
Take responsibility for what you can control, and let go of what you can’t. There are only four things you can control: your thoughts, your feelings, your words and your actions. Let go of everything else.
Keep things in perspective. When we are emotionally triggered, it’s easy to make a mountain out of a molehill. Asking yourself how much this will matter a month from now, a year from now, a decade from now really helps put things into perspective and helps you consciously choose where to invest your energy, and where to just let go.
Hold space for your emotions. It’s OK to not be OK right now. You don’t need to use this time productively; you can just allow yourself to feel and process the weight of everything that is happening. If you are struggling, you don’t need to do it alone. Reach out to a friend, family, therapist or counsellor to help you navigate challenging emotional waters.
Get outside and connect with nature. Nothing puts things into perspective quite like climbing to the top of a mountain or watching birds flit around from treetop to treetop. Being in nature also significantly reduces your stress; in fact, even just looking at a photo of nature reduces cortisol levels.
Have a meditation or mindfulness practice. Meditating actually changes the brain and the way the body responds to stress. Start with as little as five minutes per day. A mindfulness practice could be as simple as sipping a cup of tea, closing your eyes and just “feeling it.”
Connect with those you love. Connection is something that has been challenging in big ways for many of us this year. Get creative and use the amazing technological resources we have at our fingertips. It might not be the same, but it is something worth adapting for.
Practise gratitude. We have so much to be grateful for, even if that’s just clean air to breathe and a roof over our heads. Cultivate a practice of listing three things each morning or before bed that you are grateful for.
Be kind to others and be of service. Being kind and of service to others is what gives our lives meaning and purpose. Being of service could be something you do through your work, or it could be as simple as stepping out of the way to let someone pass.
Kindness has the power to change the world, and studies have shown that acts of kindness strengthen mental health and sense of well-being.
