Caring for Your Spirit in a Time of Crisis

• Connect with others through shared memories: You can deepen connections with loved ones by sharing stories, memorabilia, photographs, poems, art, or whatever resonates with you and others.
• Start an email or text chain with your friends and neighbors to uplift and help one another: Many people are also facing the same issues and emotions; comfort each other by relating to one another.
• Study a thought-provoking short text together with a friend or family member: Talk to each other and share what texts you are reading.
• Feel helpful: If it is important to feel that you are contributing to the solution or the coping of more than yourself, develop things or join in things that could be helpful to others. Look for opportunities to volunteer your time online or by reaching out to local community organizations.
• Use self-care for distraction and comfort: Find joyous distractions with things like movies, tasks that you’ve been putting off, communing with house plants and pets, taking warm baths, and doing things to relax and soothe the body.
• Take up a new hobby or start to study subjects you’ve always been interested in: Adding to your knowledge or learning a new skill is a nice way to relax and gain accomplishments.
• Combat stagnation and lack of structure through movement and meditation: Relating to yourself and your own body can be refreshing.

Most importantly, find and remember what works best for you. Consider everything that you enjoy and try it all to see what fits, and make use of what has helped your mental health before, and add it to your repertoire of self-care. Remember, moments of stress and uncertainty can exacerbate the issues and struggles we have had before, and you should not hesitate to reach out for support.