Tips for Self-Care in the Midst of Turmoil

“it’s so much going on in my life until i don’t have time for joy.” i’ve heard something to this effect more times than i can count. that’s why i invited therapist davia roberts to join our recent ig live session to discuss happiness and trauma. 

READ: Get Ready for the 2018 Happiness Project

one of the key takeaways from our discussion was this: there’s always a bit of light in the mist of darkness. joy and pain aren’t mutually exclusive concepts. you can go through shit and still give yourself permission to experience happiness.

here’s where a good self-care routine comes into play.

i’m working hard to see self-care not as a burden during my busiest or most stressful times, but as an investment that creates a greater outcome. a quick meditation, aromatherapy, exercising and more not only creates peace of mind but can boost your productivity.

READ: The Number One Thing Killing Your Joy

instead of running away from yourself during anxiety, grief or unhappiness, take a moment to get in tune. those emails can wait. your meeting can start a little later. your spouse will understand. difficult times are when you need to invest in yourself the most.

give these tips for self-care in the midst of turmoil a try:

1. stop the noise in your brain by focusing on one thing at a time. the endless to-do lists running through our heads are counterproductive — they take up space in our already crowded minds. what’s worse is they also tell you that you’re not doing enough, you never have enough time and you’re unworthy of opportunities. shut the mental naysayers down with an app like forest. it allows you to set timers for focusing on a specific task. when you’re done and haven’t left the app, a tree has grown! clearly, i’m here for the little things.
2. take a walk during the day. whether you’re a student, stay-at-home parent or full-time employee, you deserve to leave your surroundings. stress is energy, and can transmute itself to anyone present in a physical space. taking a walk not only gives you exercise, but can also press reset on your mental wavelength.
3. join a self-care community. there are countless online communities dedicated to self-care and happiness, including podcasts like black girl in om and affirm.  plus, the short weekly emails and resources from the happiness planner as well as the brief meditation podcasts from spiritual junkie gabrielle bernstein can give you a major boost. whatever your interest, finding an online community can keep you accountable and provide support.

trust yourself enough to know when it’s time to stop and invest in self-care.  push back from the turmoil and just breathe. follow #letsgethappy2018 on facebook and instagram for the latest in our 21 day happiness project!