I woke up this morning to my husband in a panic about the money we've lost this week in our stock market retirement funds, Corona virus, and how much we are spending at the grocery store. I'm pretty sure I only heard the tip of the iceberg because it was 8am and he hadn't had that much coffee yet, so he's probably really spiraling right now that he is fully caffeinated. And I get it, the world is insane right now... work conferences are being cancelled, universities are going to online classes, and heaven help you if you cough in public (may I remind you that seasonal allergies are in full swing right now). All of this during the week of Daylight Savings where we lost an hour of sleep?! It's enough to make me want to crawl back into bed and pull the covers up until June.
Without getting too woo-woo about it, there is a lot of hectic and worried energy around us so it can be hard to stay present and grounded. But in these challenging times, it is even more important that we manage our worries and take care of our mental, physical, and emotional health. Stress and anxiety can slow down our immune function, making us more susceptible to illness. When we are feeling anxious, rational thought dwindles and our ability to make good decisions decreases. Our body goes into survival mode and we act from a place of fear and scarcity rather than joy and abundance. Then before you know it, your Costco shopping cart is filled with 5 packages of canned tuna fish and you don't even like tuna fish!
Please know that I am not making light of the situation. There are people out there who are justifiably scared. If my child was fighting cancer, or my parents were in their 90s, or my best friend had an autoimmune disease, I would be a lot more concerned than I am right now. I am counting my blessings that my family and friends are healthy and have strong immune systems. But for the majority of us, I think we need to take a deep breath today and calm the f%*k down.
So, if all of this insanity has you feeling frazzled today, try the mindfulness exercise below to calm your nervous system and settle your energy. And if you would like more tips and tricks to staying grounded, join me for the FREE 5-Day March Madness Wellness Challenge starting on Monday. And for crying out loud, WASH YOUR HANDS!
Be well friends,
Jamie