The year 2020 was a doozy. While we were still reeling from old problems like climate change and divisive politics, we were handed a new set of problems starting with bushfires and ending with a global pandemic, the magnitude of which has given the word “unprecedented” a whole new meaning. It’s like living in a video game where every stage is a never-ending boss fight. 

With all the craziness going on in the world, it’s hard to stop ourselves from feeling a barrage of negative emotions. With the pandemic comes bereavement, loss of income, isolation, fear of the unknown, and health concerns. Naturally, these will spawn feelings of dread, anxiety, and depression.

We have the power to rise above these negative feelings. Right now, it is absolutely imperative to have good mental health. It is a duty to take care of our mental health, not only for ourselves but for everyone we care about. That starts with learning how to manage fear and anxiety.

1. Accept and validate – don’t ignore your feelings. That leads to repression and resentment. Address your fears, accept that they exist within you, and know that these feelings are valid.
2. Speak up and seek help – talk to a trusted family member or friend. If you keep your negative feelings bottled up inside you, that could bubble up as something nasty, in the future. If you feel that the issue might be too much for your loved ones to handle, talk to a professional.
3. Focus on what you can control – learn your triggers and don’t be triggered by just about anything. Pick your battles and devote your energy into things that you have power and influence over.
4. Be open to change – I’ll leave you with a quote. “If nothing ever changed, there would be no such things as butterflies.” – Wendy Mass
5. Allow your mind to rest – make restful sleep a priority. First, work out how much sleep you need, and reverse engineer from there. Practice good sleep hygiene. We’ve got some tips here.
6. Stop the comparisons – your journey is unique. Everyone copes differently, find your unique way.
7. Be kinder to yourself – self-talk is important. What we tell ourselves shapes our minds. Think good thoughts, Do good deeds. Talk to yourself as you would talk to a friend.
8. Don’t be afraid to fail and try again – focusing on the mistakes will only leave you jaded. Always try to find the silver lining and the lesson and then choose to improve and move on.

We’re all just trying to do our best in our own little way. So be kinder to people. Everyone (yes, everyone, universally) has gone through a rough and tumble year. The only way to make it better is to start by being kinder to ourselves and to one another. That makes all the difference.

How do you take care of your mental health in these trying times? We’d love to get some tips. Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp