Good morning ya’ll! Happy Hump Day! I don’t know about you, but I’m having a hard time remembering what day it is at this point! I was thinking this morning about how I can continue to keep my mental health strong and anxiety down during this quarantine and wanted to share with you a few things I’m doing. None of this will be earth shattering but I just feel a need to encourage you to take advantage of this much needed rest we’re getting and use it as a recharge for yourself and your family. Even though I’m combatting a fear of the future, I want to see this time at home as a gift. Here are a few ways I’m striving to stay mentally healthy during this time!
- Do something everyday that makes you feel ‘normal’. This might look like getting out of bed and getting yourself ready for the day instead of staying in your pajamas all day. Or maybe you stay in your pajamas but you cook yourself/your family breakfast and read a devotional together. It could also be tidying up the house, taking a shower, or planning meals for the day.
- Set limits for yourself with electronics. Kids aren’t the only ones who need limits — we limit them for the exact same reason we SHOULD be limiting ourselves. I’ve found myself wanting to just sit on the couch for hours on end on my phone and my goodness that’s not helpful to my psyche. If I’m being honest with myself it’s a coping mechanism to attempt to ‘checkout’ and pretend that my business isn’t falling apart and the world isn’t in shambles. However, choosing to accept those things as a current reality and to do something productive with my time is so much more beneficial. Also, what I’m looking at on my phone is doom and gloom – I’d like to choose light and hope. What we set our minds on matters!
- Be intentional with your time. Are there projects around the house or within your business you’ve been wishing you had the time to tackle? Or quality time with your spouse or kids you’ve been aching for? Just a few weeks ago I was overworked and exhausted with several weekends of weddings in a row wishing for some rest. NOW IS THE TIME! Make a list of all the things you ‘wished you had time for’ just a month ago and start accomplishing those things. It could look like marking one things off the list every couple of days and just for the record, rest or binging a series on Netflix is ok to put on that list!
- Quiet time with Jesus. I have a hard time consistently being in the word. I have seasons where I’m really good at doing it everyday and others where it’s hit or miss. I often use busyness as a crutch but I’m trying really hard to put him first each morning. In a time where there is so much temptation to give into the fear of the future, I want to set my heart and mind squarely on the hope of Jesus. He is the knower and doer of all things, he’s got the whole world in his hands and regardless of what happens on this earth, I know he is STILL GOOD!
- Move your body! It is amazing the way that the brain reacts to being active. Exercise can reduce stress and improve your mood. It gives you a sense of control over your well being and boosts your immune system. And I sleep SO much better when I’m exercising. I started working out every morning about 100 days ago. I’m going to complete my 100 day program I committed to tomorrow and I can’t tell you all the things it’s done for me. I know this seems dramatic, but I went from feeling terrible about myself and depressed to THRIVING. Having a consistent workout routine and sticking to it has changed my life. It helped me realize, I CAN do hard things if I put my mind to it. If you’d like to join me, you can access over 1,000 workouts for free for the next 14 days before you pay a dime. If you’re interested, shoot me an email and I’ll send you a link! Once you sign up, I’ll add you to my facebook community where you’ll find daily encouragement and accountability. Also we have a virtual gym where we hop on in the mornings and all workout together. I’m starting a new program on Friday if ya’ll want to join me, NOW is the time!
- Enjoy the sunshine. I believe God created us to be in nature. Yesterday around 1 PM the boys were driving me absolutely crazy so we went for a walk and they rode their scooters. Being cooped up inside can feel suffocating… especially with kiddos. Do yourself a favor and soak up some Vitamin D and breathe in that fresh air.
- Have a routine. I know everyone won’t agree with me on this one and that’s ok, it takes all different types of people to make the world go round. I’m not saying schedule out every minute, but maybe a loose routine so that you don’t feel overwhelmed by being stuck at home. My current schedule includes a workout, quiet time, cartoons for the boys when they get up so I can edit, then breakfast, then academic time them followed by outside playtime etc.
- Help your neighbor. We have a lot of elderly people on our street and I have been trying to find ways we can serve them. I’ve offered groceries to them and just checked on them to see what they needed. I think now more than ever, we have a chance to connect with those around us. One of the best things about this pandemic is knowing that we’re all unified in going through this together. We are collectively experiencing the good and the bad together. Take heart in that see how you can serve people during this time. Serving others always makes my heart happy.
- Practice gratitude! In the inspiration of Rachel Hollis, list out 5 things your grateful for each day. If you’ve got kids, get them in on this and let them make their own lists or have a family list. Here’s my list from this morning: a body that can workout, healthy kids, enough food in our pantry, my husband is still working, and God is in control. Also this doesn’t have to be a physical list – sometimes I just go around the table with the boys in the mornings and have them say it out loud. It really does help fill your heart with gladness.
- Be aware and accept your feelings about COVID-19. I have felt so many things towards our current situation. It’s scary. How long will this last? Will things ever be the same again? Is everything going to be ok? How many of my wedding clients are going to reschedule? What will happen if this goes on for months? Are people I know going to die from this? Will my family be ok? Are we prepared enough? What will next year look like for my business? I encourage you to acknowledge the fear you’re feeling about all of the unknowns. I like to write them down, so they’re out of my head and onto paper… it stops my brain from playing the same fears on repeat over and over again. So I write them down and then I remind myself of God’s truth. He is still good, He is all-knowing and in control. He loves me and He is for me and He strengthens me.
And a few of the smaller things I’m doing as well is trying to eat healthy, nutritious meals (I did eat too many cookies yesterday LOL), getting adequate sleep even though staying up late is tempting and staying in touch with friends and family.
If you’re still reading, thanks for listening to my ramblings. I hope they were helpful. I feel optimistic about our future and truly hope that we can all take advantage of the gift of this quarantine. Also – I’d like to pray for you if you have a need. Shoot me a message on Instagram or Facebook or email me at jenny(at)jwbaugh.com Big hugs friend, from my screen to yours.
Jenny
