The second wave of Covid 19 has spared none of us from pain and anxiety. The grief over lives lost, the uncertainty of access to medical care, fear of what is to come...we are going through profound grief, distress, despair, fear, and worry. We know so much about things that are within our control such as maintaining social distances, using masks, using sanitizers and disinfectants to protect us from the virus. Yet there seems to be so much that seems outside our control. We are fighting an invisible enemy over which we feel so much powerless. The long and endless fight has left us all tired and exhausted.
We wake up day after day with intense feelings of helplessness. As women, many of us take up additional responsibility as caregivers. Many of us have professional roles to balance along. Many of us are doing it all without much help. Many of us are running short on energy as we try hard to keep going. It is not easy to give from a place of lack. It is not easy to feel positive when all we see around is sadness. It is not easy to care when we feel a loss of control.
So, how can we take care of ourselves when we don't feel certain? How can we create a positive mindset amidst the despair? How can we take care of others when we feel lost? Here are three simple things you can do to support yourself through these tough times.
So, how can we take care of ourselves when we don't feel certain? How can we create a positive mindset amidst the despair? How can we take care of others when we feel lost? Here are three simple things you can do to support yourself through these tough times.
From giving care to self-care
In times of stress, self-care becomes the least of our priorities. It feels selfish to focus on self-care when we have so much to attend to. We stop paying attention to what and when we eat, how much we rest when our focus is on giving care. As much important as the need for giving care is, it is equally important to focus on caring for self. Eating healthy at regular intervals, getting sufficient sleep and movement with the focus to release stress is important to maintain our energy and also keep our immune system functioning at its best. Self-care is not selfish. Selfcare refuels one to be energetic caregivers.
From mind fullness to being mindful
News and information about the pandemic have been consuming us from all sides. Even if we have managed to disconnect from mass media, social media has become an integral part of us, much more difficult to disconnect us from. As a result, our minds are flooded with constant fear and anxiety. Our minds are in a constant fight mode wanting to know more, fearing that we would miss out on something otherwise. A constantly racing mind can lead to debilitating stress. To counter that, it is important to give our minds some rest and a simple way to getting started is by being mindful. Being mindful in daily life is being aware of the present moment. It is about paying attention to all your senses as you go about doing activities of daily living. It could be the time you brush your teeth in the morning or inhale steam during midday or make tea in the evening. Being mindful is to stop thinking about the pandemic during those short moments and being aware of the sights, taste, smells, sounds, and senses as we do something. These mindful mini-breaks will help you to recharge yourself.
From cocoon to connections
The sheer nature of the pandemic has pushed us into cocoons, the best-known way to keep us protected from the virus. Last year, around the same time, the novelty of this experience drove us to reach out to technology for virtual connections. We connected online for fun, learning, and casual interactions. The second wave has put a focus back on the role of technology in aiding social connectedness. Grief can be a lonely experience. Let us continue staying connected. Her Second Innings is a community that you can reach out to and lean on to for support and feel connected. There is also no shame in reaching out to professional support from counsellors and psychotherapists if you are feeling alone in your anxiety and grief. Social connections can support us emotionally in riding out the storm the second wave has turned out to be.
These self-care practices are not a one-shot solution but it requires effort and continued practice to make it your own. Choose a thing that best supports you and reach out to me if you would like to talk more about it.
About the Author
Jennifer Moses is a Career Guidance Coach at HerSecond Innings and a Counseling Psychologist based out of Bangalore. HSI community members can reach her by making at appointment at Coaching.
Her Second Innings supports women professionals on a sabbatical in their journey of getting back to work. The mission of HSI is to guide women to achieve financial independence. Support from HSI comes in the form of job interviews, reskilling programs in Automation and, free Career Guidance Counselling. Sign up with us and complete your profile to get a call from our counselors to know your job fit.
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