Anxious Energy: It’s Been a hell of a week. here’s how I’m Coping
It’s the second week on November and the reality of the present moment is quite frankly almost too ridiculous to consider as actual reality. It feels like I’m living in a poorly acted, low-budget version of “Black Mirror” that refuses to just let the damn credits roll. (Full disclosure: I’ve only seen two episodes of “Black Mirror” because I’m far too anxious to commit to a show that intense.) Between this horrifying election, the on-going (and seemingly never-ending) pandemic and the general bullshit that goes on around here (here being…well, this planet) there’s a lot to be anxious about.
You can truly be anxious about being anxious at this point. And I am. But it’s okay because there are things that I can do to console myself.
As I type this at 6:00 in the morning watching the sunrise reflected in the mirrored buildings outside my window, I’m already tapping into one of my coping mechanisms that has been propelling me through this absurd moment in human history. I’m honing in on gratitude.
It has been increasingly important for me to count my blessings during a time when doubt permeates so much of my life. When I find myself questioning when things are going to begin changing for the better and am doubtful of the tide ever turning, I ground myself in gratitude. It can be for something existential like being grateful to see another sunrise. It can be something tiny like feeling grateful for your favorite pair of jeans that give you the confidence you need to face your day. Whatever it may be, hold onto it, believe in it and let it fuel your gratitude inventory.
Okay, yes, gratitude is cool, absolutely. What else you got?
Well, here’s a list:
-Creating immaculately curated playlists: Few things bring me greater joy than creating an excellent playlist. I take some much pride in getting them just right and I have one for just about every mood and moment. Some help to set the tone for my day, others are created to ease myself through difficult moments, there are those that serve to divert my attention from something stressful and finally, I have my at-home concert playlists complete with choreography and very questionable vocals. Music has always helped me to relieve stress. Organizing a collection of songs to create just the right flow is so satisfying. Check out my playlists on Spotify @morganification.
-Organizing my space: Having a tidy space is just *chef’s kiss, wonderful, fantastic, essential. I simply cannot exist amongst clutter; it just does not work for me. Having control over some small part of my environment is a necessity for me. I can’t control everything that happens around me but I’ll be damned if I can’t have a tidy space.
-Geeking out about my interests: If you love something, love it hard. Spending so much of my downtime alone has allowed me to really dive into my interests and cultivate some new ones. I’ve been writing, creating personal style Pinterest boards, listening to copious amounts of K-Pop (and learning those fire dance routines), cooking new recipes, reading some great books and choreographing hip-hop phrases. I’ve also started digital collaging (look at what I made for t his post!) and creating moodboards to stay inspired. It’s been important to have things to do just simply for fun. No pressure to achieve anything, just doing the thing to enjoy the time spent doing it.
-Calling friends and family: This has been vital for me since I now live alone. When I need some human contact in the midst of this pandemic, I rely on FaceTime sessions with my loved ones. We cook together, eat together, watch things together and talk about everything and nothing. It helps me to still feel connected to my community even when I’m physically removed from them.
That (in a nutshell) is what I’ve been doing as of late to feel okay. I hope that you’re taking care and finding ways to show up for yourself right now.
Feel free to drop your tips for coping with stress and anxiety in the comments and please reach out if you need someone to talk to. My many inboxes are always open.
Stay well, be easy and stay safe out there. Much love.