There's been so many changes in the world recently...
With the outbreak of COVID-19, we have been completely uprooted. Our day-to-day lives, things that we probably thought would never change, have changed. Schools are closed. Restaurants are closed. People are out of work. Parents are needing to homeschool their kids. Parents who are still working are forced to figure out who can care for their kids while they're at work, and so much more...
We are feeling this GLOBALLY. Not just in our nation, but this is felt all over the planet. And it's scary. These are uncertain times, and it has drastically spiked the amount of stress and anxiety that we feel. Not only are the current circumstances of our lives different, but on top of that, there is worry and fear about our loved ones getting sick, or we ourselves being infected.
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I've seen many posts on social media about how we can use this time to our advantage - staying home with loved ones gives us a chance to re-connect and cherish this time. Working from home offers us more of a chance to relax. Having time off gives the opportunity to explore our creative endeavors.
BUT....
Not everyone is able to look at life that way. There are people who are truly, truly suffering. People who are quarantined with their abusive partners, children who are forced to stay home with abusive parents, those out of work who can't even afford groceries, let along their rent. The list goes on for how people are suffering during this radical change in our world.
Here's my POV: put simply, we as humans can benefit tremendously from learning ways to manage our stress and anxiety. Whether you are doing well during this time, or not, there still may be stress and anxiety. I believe that looking at what you're grateful for, and learning to view things differently, is a beautiful thing. But for some, that may seem near impossible. And so I find that simply having the resources for how to manage this time of fear, stress, and anxiety, is crucial.
That is what this page is for
Resources
Here you will find tons of resources to assist in relieving stress, fear and anxiety. Many are things I've used in my own life, many are things I've heard of.
Of these things, you'll find:
- podcasts
- youtube channels
- apps
- books
- practices/tools
- tips
- guided meditations
- journal prompts
For meditation:
- Insight Timer (free)
- Beautifulness (free with option to upgrade)
For daily inspiration:
- Eternal Sunshine
Podcasts
*in no particular order*
- The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes
- EXPANDED Podcast with Lacy Phillips
- Manifestation Babe
- And She Rises
- Spiritually Intimate Conversations
I also love some good comedic ones:
- The JTrain Podcast
- U Up?
Tips
A major tip I have is to develop some sort of daily practice to be able to connect with yourself, de-stress, and relax. For me, it's my morning routing, which looks like this:
- Journaling
- Reading
- Meditation
For others, it could look like a daily yoga practice, going for a run, being outside in nature, spending time carrying out your hobby...it literally can be whatever you want. But make sure you try and carve out time every day (if you can, I know that of course life doesn't always allow us to every day) to do those things that you enjoy and that will allow you to destress.
Journal Prompts
Below are some prompts to help you navigate during these times of high stress and anxiety. You can write these in a journal or notebook, or you can read them aloud and answer them in your head, whatever works for you!
*Note: if at any moment these prompts don't feel aligned, or are triggering, or if at any point you're feeling like the weight of your emotions are too heavy, please consult a professional.
- What are you feeling right now, in this moment? Can you give it a name? When we are able to name and *call out* our emotions, it loosens the grip they may have over us
- What were to happen if you allowed yourself to feel these emotions fully? Are you able to invite them in? Emotions are energy in motion, they need to be felt and in fact are coming up for that reason. Pushing them to the side is only a temporary fix. Instead, see if you can fully lean in to the emotions, even if they are difficult to feel.
- How can you make space in your day to pause and breathe? To feel into your body?
- Jake Ducey
- Mel Robbins
- Amanda Frances
- The Holistic Psychologist
- Abraham Hicks
Books
(There are so many books I've read and loved; I'll do my best to list them all here! Most of them are more on the spiritual side, some mention manifestation, all of them are inspiring to me. If there's a book I've read that is really about something specific, I'll mention it next to the title)
- A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
- Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle
- Practicing the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
- The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
- The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer
- The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy
- You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh
- No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering by Thich Nhat Hanh
- Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
- The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
- The Power by Rhonda Byrne
- Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
- When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
- Being in Love: How to Love with Awareness and Relate Without Fear by Osho
- Rewire: Change Your Brains to Break Bad Habits, Overcome Addictions, Conquer Self-Destructive Behavior by Richard O'Connor
- Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender by David R. Hawkins
- You Are the Universe: Discovering Your Cosmic Self and Why It Matters by Deepak Chopra
- Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom by Rick Hanson, Richard Mendius, Daniel J. Siegel
- Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brene Brown
- The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith by Gabby Bernstein
- Judgement Detox: Release the Beliefs That Hold You Back from Living A Better Life by Gabby Bernstein
- Super Attractor by Gabby Bernstein
- Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One by Dr. Joe Dispense
- Mind to Matter: The Astonishing Science of How Your Brain Creates Material Reality by Dawson Church
- The Genie Within: Your Subconscious Mind by Harry W. Carpenter
- The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks
