social distancing + self care: how to connect in times of isolation

In times like these I find it difficult to connect.

I find myself spending too much time on my phone.

I find myself wanting to go shopping.

I find myself snacking.

I find myself downloading Hannah Brown’s season of the Bachelorette and wondering what would have happened had she picked Tyler C….and then finding that she and Tyler are together in Florida for quarantine!

these are all coping mechanisms for unprocessed emotion.

We are in an unprecedented time. We have a wealth of information (and misinformation) at our fingertips. We have the ability to connect with people halfway around the globe, thanks to social media and the Internet.

We can conduct courses online; we can practice yoga together through a livestream; we can order groceries/meals for delivery and leave instructions to limit human contact.

Yet we don’t always learn how to safely process scary emotions like fear, anxiety, stress, and uncertainty.

in times like this I struggle with staying connected. To myself, and to others.

This is a normal human response to trauma (because yes, not being able to find toilet paper, food, water in the midst of a pandemic is a form of trauma. Not knowing if you will have a job/income is trauma. Not knowing if someone you love will be affected by coronavirus is trauma.).

And we are all facing this same trauma.

people will respond to this trauma differently

Some will buy $70,000 worth of Lysol to sell at a profit.

Some will pretend nothing is wrong and go out to bars while being asked to social distance (please read the link at the end of this article to understand social distancing and why it is imperative to practice right now).

Some will watch the news 24/7 and fall into a pit of fear, anxiety, and despair.

Some will use humor to cope.

Some people (like me) will agonize over tough decisions to close their business, cancel engagements, lose themselves in the Bachelor, and then utilize tools to support themselves through this difficult time.

Mindfulness is a tool I use to stay connected.

This week I’m committed to staying home to “flatten the curve” and do my part to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Since I will not be working with clients in person, one on one, I am committed to showing up online (in this space and on my instagram) to:

share resources from trusted professionals
share mindful practices to reduce stress
share routines to help people thrive in difficult circumstances
lead yoga + meditation virtually for anyone to practice at home
connect via FaceTime if anyone needs to talk
share at-home yoga, workout, and mindful movement for those skipping the gym and class (and thank you to these people for doing their part).