2020 has been a year full of surprises, some being more unpleasant than others. Many of us found ourselves feeling overwhelmed by the civil unrest in America coupled with the mother of all elections taking place at home.
I didn’t vote this year for obvious reasons and neither do I live in the USA, but the ramifications of both events have left me deeply troubled mentally. So much so, I question the necessity of bringing in a child into this world that is so unkind now more than ever. There is a hopeless feeling to 2020 that even my anti-depressants are having a hard time shaking.
On Monday, I woke up and started crying five minutes later. I didn’t have the best sleep and I was exhausted from the weekend after hosting a family friend. While I blamed my meltdown on a plethora of reasons, one common denominator was stress.
It is easy to expect immediate results for all of the world’s problems as we live in an era with a heightened appeal for speediness, but as my husband reminded me as he consoled me, not every problem will require a speedy solution. In fact, some will be gradual to ensure that lessons are learnt, despite how painful they are.
In the moment those were the right words that I needed to hear. It will be natural to experience a burnout after seeing so much toxicity, however, managing its level is even more important.
Unplug
Refreshing your screen will not change much. If anything it becomes addictive. Set aside perhaps two periods in the day to check in for updates. This will help to lower stress levels as you are not constantly combing through the news. In addition to this, try to lower your screen time use at least one hour before bed.
Sleep, sleep, and more sleep
There is a Guyanese saying that goes: ‘Wah rain nah full, dew can’t full.’ You will probably look back at this moment and think how naïve you were when it came to refusing to honour your body by over thinking and aggressively reflecting. Sleep affects processes that keep your heart and blood vessels healthy. As a result, blood sugar and blood pressure levels are affected. Don’t sacrifice your sleep. Almost absolutely nothing is wrong with it. It is the only way we can recharge effectively.
Eat smartly
Stress makes me lose weight, while for some it increases their appetite. Despite both realities, what we eat will determine the quality of days we will have due to the influence of sugar levels, cholesterol and so on. Even if you are at home, prepare wholesome meals so you don’t find yourself snacking on foods that may weigh you down.
Stress is inevitable. Surviving and managing for the most part is not out of our reach.
