Staying Strong in Crisis

As I write this, we have all been asked to shelter in place, staying home as much as possible, because of the pandemic. This puts pressure on both individuals, who may be very alone now, and couples, who may be struggling with needing alone time and space. Everyone is worried, and feeling stressed. Here's how to stay strong in this crisis.

1. To stay strong, stay connected to colleagues, friends and family members. Although you may not be able to be in personal and physical contact with people you care about, you can still use the telephone, video, FaceTime and other technology to see and talk with people who are close to you. You and your colleagues can talk and support each other through this crisis.

2. Take time to understand what you're feeling and experiencing. If you're having emotional reactions that are not normal to you, like angry outbursts or anxiety, take some time to feel the feelings. Don't be afraid to cry or express what you feel. If you can, write it down. It's amazing how writing down your fears makes them more manageable.

3. Talk to others who understand, and let them know how you feel and find out how they're feeling. Don't just say you're "fine" when someone asks. Let them know how you're doing for real, and find out about them. You'll feel a lot better after sharing and learning that others are having the same struggles. If you have children, play with them, and talk about how everyone feels.

4. Try to get some time outdoors, even if it's in your own back yard or a nearby park. Being around grass, trees and flowers helps relieve tension. Just keep your distance from others.

5. If you have a pet, cuddle with it. Petting a dog or cat can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and give you a mental break.

6. Talk to a mental health professional. Even if it's a phone or video session, talking with a mental health professional can help you understand your feelings and manage stress.

7. Meditate: If you can get some quiet alone time, just sit and focus on your breathing until you feel yourself relax. You can pray, or you can just sit quietly, counting your breaths.

8. Move: Walk around your yard or outdoors, as long as you are staying distant from other people. Walking rhythmically for ten or fifteen minutes can give you a chance to relax and de-stress.

9. Play soothing music: Angry rock or rap will probably not help, but soothing music, either classical, meditative or upbeat can help reduce your stress a lot.

I hope you are well and safe, and I'm wishing all of us a speedy end to this crisis.

© 2020 Tina B. Tessina It Ends With You: Grow Up and Out of Dysfunction

Author Bio: Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D. (www.tinatessina.com) is a licensed psychotherapist in S. California since 1978 with over 40 years' experience in counseling individuals and couples and author of 15 books in 17 languages, including Dr. Romance's Guide to Finding Love Today; It Ends With You: Grow Up and Out of Dysfunction. She writes the "Dr. Romance" blog, and the "Happiness Tips from Tina" email newsletter. Online, she's known as "Dr. Romance" and offers courses at GenerousMarriage.com Dr. Tessina appears frequently on radio, TV, video and podcasts. She tweets @tinatessina

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tina_Tessina/34086

Why Am I So TIRED All the Time? 15 Causes of Low Energy, Fatigue, and Feeling Constantly Tired

 

https://youtu.be/Sul2g7cjmxM

Here's some interesting thoughts about tiredness and ways to get more energy

How Do You Do So Much?

I'm sure we've all had occasions when we've looked on in awe and wondered, perhaps out loud, how someone's able to fit in as much as they do. While we're still pondering tonight's dinner menu they may well have been to the gym, organised the food shop, made several important calls, volunteered at a local charity and completed an important piece of work.

How do they do so much?

- Being organised is the key to getting things done. Without organisation things can become too random, dipping in and out of tasks with very little focus or planning. Lists can be an efficient way of introducing order and method, so enabling things to be sorted by degree of urgency.

- Some things are too big or complicated to tackle in one go. Input or a contribution may be required from a third-party, so being efficient is about passing things on quickly so that each person can tackle their part. Keep an eye on what's going on and where individual tasks are up to.

- Delegating is a valuable tool in a busy life. Being precious and insisting on doing everything yourself may feel like an important position to protect, but not everything needs to be jealously guarded. Let others help, share in the story and maybe come up with new, even better ideas. It motivates everyone when they're included as part of the team.

- Don't wait for everything to be perfect before you start. There's no need to practice-run every possible scenario or set of circumstances in advance. Often things come together well enough once you begin. Allow your mindset to be flexible and receptive to different possibilities and enjoy where it takes you, unless it's one of those times when it's essential to follow very specific criteria.

- Double up. Some social arrangements could, under normal circumstances, potentially be combined. Eating out, seeing a show or concert and catching up with friends may successfully maximise your time and create almost a party atmosphere. Equally business networking combined with a game of golf pulls together two areas of life, as does exercising or enjoying a hobby with family or friends.

- Hire help. Certain routine or mundane tasks like ironing, cleaning and gardening may be worth outsourcing. It may be worth paying good money to free up your time for other things. Equally, tasks outside your area of expertise may be better done by someone else, rather than having you spend hours agonising over your accounts, admin or design work.

- Learn to say 'no' appropriately. When we work for ourselves or are new to a location, are keen to fit in and be accepted it can be tempting to say 'yes' and agree to everything. Sometimes we need to review what we're already committed to, or we may run ourselves ragged, trying to accommodate everything and everybody.

- Take regular breaks and recharge. A twenty-minute break gives enough time to eat a healthy snack, hydrate, maybe get outside for some fresh air. Often people find that they then return to work with a clearer mind and renewed enthusiasm for the job in hand.

- Remember to give yourself credit for each achievement. Rather than systematically working your way through your list, instead pause to appreciate each stage of the journey, every task completed.

And sometimes might it be relevant to ask yourself why you do so much, why you allow your time to be so fully occupied. Some people are constantly busy because they need to be in control and are loathe to pass on work to others for fear it may result in them being cut out of the loop, it may allow others to be seen to do a better job or have their mistakes and shortcomings discovered.

FOMO, fear of missing out, having something to prove, trying to be indispensable, not wanting to let go of the reins and filling every second with meaningful activity can all create their own stress.

But then, there are those people who are eager to try everything that's on the menu, can't wait to sample every option that's on offer. Whilst not wanting to dampen their enthusiasm too much, it's also important to take time to rest, savour, rehearse and make the best choices for you. Enjoy doing one thing at a time. You can always return another day and try a different delicacy.

Susan Leigh, counsellor, hypnotherapist, relationship counsellor, writer & media contributor offers help with relationship issues, stress management, assertiveness and confidence. She works with individual clients, couples and provides corporate workshops and support.

She's author of 3 books, 'Dealing with Stress, Managing its Impact', '101 Days of Inspiration #tipoftheday' and 'Dealing with Death, Coping with the Pain', all on Amazon & with easy to read sections, tips and ideas to help you feel more positive about your life.

To order a copy or for more information, help and free articles visit http://www.lifestyletherapy.net

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Susan_Leigh/399535

When Things Look Bleak, Live Your Life One Day At A Time

Slow Down And Reassess Your Priorities 

How are you coping at the moment? What are your chief concerns? How are you dealing with it? Even though we're living in tenuous times, it is important we check in with ourselves regularly. People cope in different ways, some better in stressful conditions, while others internalise their stress. We ought to deal with what is affecting us, instead of repeating the patterns of the past. Whist the pandemic may appear bleak at the moment, it doesn't mean it will be permanent. Mankind has faced many challenges throughout history. 

Regrettably, many people will succumb to the virus and their families and friends will be affected. It is tragic when people lose their lives to a disease beyond their control. But we mustn't live in a constant state of fear because what we dwell upon may come to pass. We should focus on taking the smallest step to secure our dreams and best future. Life will improve, there are no two ways about it. We have experienced these challenges before and will overcome them again. 

In times like this, our attitude determines our altitude; how high we soar above our challenges. It is how we respond in times of crisis that determines whether we stay stuck or look for positive solutions. Man's greatest discoveries were made during some of the darkest periods in human history. Mankind is resilient and can overcome any of life's challenges, with the right mindset and attitude. Knowing this, what actions could you take to deal with your worries? Does it involve giving attention to your mental, emotional and physical well-being? Perhaps it requires less interaction with social media and the news, or reaching out to friends and loved ones more often? 

When we take each day as it comes, we become present to the moment, rather than hope for a future that may not arrive as we expect. I'm getting the sense that this pandemic is teaching us to slow down and reassess our priorities. It is inviting us to place value on the importance of family, friendships, purpose and living in the present moment. Being grounded in the now helps us anchor ourselves to our present moment experience. It reduces the stress of living in the future, and we become grateful for each moment we're alive. So, when things look bleak, we ought to live one day at a time and savour what we have. 

Live Each Day As Though It Were A Precious Gift

Does it make sense that scurrying from day to-day does little to bring you peace of mind? It only compounds to the stress experienced before the pandemic. In a recent video blog titled: Although The World May Never Be The Same, You Can Still Find A New Normal, I outline five ways to find a new normal going forward. I explain that we are being invited to create a new paradigm for our future, rather than bring the old with us. This will mean letting go of how the future should be and allow life to fill us with: peace, harmony, cooperation and togetherness. We ought to think differently about how we live, otherwise we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes. As you know, this pandemic has ruined many lives and businesses, not to mention the financial burden on world economies. 

So, let's hunker down and learn the lessons instead of blaming others for the way things are. Yes, we're all in this together because our choices impact others. For example, not wearing a face mask in public can have a devastating effect on thousands of people. This is an opportunity to look into ourselves and examine our motives, to see whether they are aligned with a new world being ushered in. So, what are you giving your attention to right now? What do you hope to create going forward? What do you want to see in the months and years ahead? Begin where you are now and live each day as though it were a precious gift, instead of lamenting how things should return to normal. The normal we once knew wasn't working, so life is giving us the opportunity to write a new script. 

Savour every moment because life has a way of turning at the drop of a hat. Take inventory of your life, no matter your age and decide what you'd like the world to look like. Your actions have a ripple effect, in ways you can never imagine. Act locally but think globally, goes the saying. So, after you finish reading this article, go back to the questions at the beginning and answer them as best you can. Check in with yourself regularly and optimise your mental and emotional well-being. After all, when things look bleak, living one day at a time opens you to infinite opportunities that you may not have seen before. 

Do you want to lead a remarkable life? Are you committed to taking action despite your fears and doubts? If so, download your FREE copy of my eBook NAVIGATE LIFE right now, and start your amazing journey of greatness today! 

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tony_Fahkry/837610