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Abstract

ing for a good story. I spend entirely too much time staring at my screen, flipping through stories on social media or reading the daily news. Even though I know it’s good to educate myself, too much is too much.</p><p id="6a79">I take walks, spend meaningful time with my kids, enjoy adult beverages with my neighbors and spend time in my garden. I read light fiction. I listen to music and I sing.</p><h1 id="d162">Eat well</h1><p id="51a8">Everyone enjoys their carbs. That’s why they’re comfort food. And since I have a plant-based diet, it’s easy to grab some carbs and go. But, at my age, eating carbs all the time can make me feel worse. So I make an effort to eat a wider variety of foods.</p><p id="4003">Being mindful about what I eat forces me to, once again, step away from the news cycle and think about what to eat. When I shift my focus to researching and trying a new recipe, I benefit from the distraction and from putting healthier things in my body.</p><h1 id="cf21">Have a pet</h1><p id="4474">I’m not going to lie. As a lifelong pet owner, I can tell you that pets are a lot of work. Tons of work what with the pooping and the walks. When I’m not home, my dog likes to spread my garbage all over my house and eat my couch. She’s a rescue so I’ll give her a pass.</p><p id="41a8">But…all of that extra work forces me, once again, to step away from my computer and live in the moment. And I’ve had some of my best moments with her. Early morning walks, trips to the dog park, o

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r when she decides to climb into my lap (all 65 pounds of her) while I watch TV. When I’m really stressed, the extra weight calms me.</p><h1 id="c42f">Get outside</h1><p id="8d51">Nothing will clear your head and boost your mood like fresh air and vitamin D. Going outside forces you to step away from your computer. You can go for a jog, go for a walk, or do some yard work. Any of those activities will pull you out of the rabbit hole of negativity.</p><h1 id="8d70">Be selfish</h1><p id="87c2">When I say this, I don’t mean without regard for others. When we are smacked in the face with the reality of a situation it is natural to feel helpless and like we can’t possibly do anything. Self care is important. Without it we will lose morale, steam and ultimately our cause.</p><p id="9157">Take a bubble bath. Read or watch something escapist. Listen to fun music. Dance. Do your thing just for you.</p><h1 id="e8ec">Use humor</h1><p id="efae">As someone of Irish descent, I’ve experienced the power of humor. Irish people have historically used humor to navigate tough situations. Read humor, tell jokes and write satire. Do it in a way that’s constructive and not punching down.</p><p id="d42d">Humor and laughter produce mood boosting endorphins that lift our spirits and give us strength.</p><p id="55ec">The human condition is not adverse to tough times. And yet we endure. But in order to continue, we must take care of ourselves first. There is no one else who will.</p></article></body>

Self Care During Tough Times

A practical guide for writers and all humans.

As a writer, one of my jobs is to keep tabs on current events. While my family, friends and neighbors can turn away when they get uncomfortable, I put my ear to the ground, listen up and try to find the stories in the events. Often I tell my own story and give my own take on things.

Under normal circumstances, it’s overwhelming. Lucky for us it’s 2020 and things are far from normal — so my job is terrifying.

Remember at midnight on New Years eve when we all breathed a collective sigh of relief because 2020 had to be better? Ha! Already, it’s June and we’ve seen drought, fire, pestilence, poverty and war. Here in America, our President behaves though he’s living in an alternate universe.

Writers need to take care of themselves if they want to tell these stories. Here’s how.

Take breaks

It’s so easy to fall into the rabbit hole online. Especially if you’re a writer. We’re researchers by nature, we’re curious and we’re always looking for a good story. I spend entirely too much time staring at my screen, flipping through stories on social media or reading the daily news. Even though I know it’s good to educate myself, too much is too much.

I take walks, spend meaningful time with my kids, enjoy adult beverages with my neighbors and spend time in my garden. I read light fiction. I listen to music and I sing.

Eat well

Everyone enjoys their carbs. That’s why they’re comfort food. And since I have a plant-based diet, it’s easy to grab some carbs and go. But, at my age, eating carbs all the time can make me feel worse. So I make an effort to eat a wider variety of foods.

Being mindful about what I eat forces me to, once again, step away from the news cycle and think about what to eat. When I shift my focus to researching and trying a new recipe, I benefit from the distraction and from putting healthier things in my body.

Have a pet

I’m not going to lie. As a lifelong pet owner, I can tell you that pets are a lot of work. Tons of work what with the pooping and the walks. When I’m not home, my dog likes to spread my garbage all over my house and eat my couch. She’s a rescue so I’ll give her a pass.

But…all of that extra work forces me, once again, to step away from my computer and live in the moment. And I’ve had some of my best moments with her. Early morning walks, trips to the dog park, or when she decides to climb into my lap (all 65 pounds of her) while I watch TV. When I’m really stressed, the extra weight calms me.

Get outside

Nothing will clear your head and boost your mood like fresh air and vitamin D. Going outside forces you to step away from your computer. You can go for a jog, go for a walk, or do some yard work. Any of those activities will pull you out of the rabbit hole of negativity.

Be selfish

When I say this, I don’t mean without regard for others. When we are smacked in the face with the reality of a situation it is natural to feel helpless and like we can’t possibly do anything. Self care is important. Without it we will lose morale, steam and ultimately our cause.

Take a bubble bath. Read or watch something escapist. Listen to fun music. Dance. Do your thing just for you.

Use humor

As someone of Irish descent, I’ve experienced the power of humor. Irish people have historically used humor to navigate tough situations. Read humor, tell jokes and write satire. Do it in a way that’s constructive and not punching down.

Humor and laughter produce mood boosting endorphins that lift our spirits and give us strength.

The human condition is not adverse to tough times. And yet we endure. But in order to continue, we must take care of ourselves first. There is no one else who will.