Our newest staff person, Barb Smith-Morrison, who has joined our CAPC/CPNP team as Regional Liaison, shared some tweets by Emily M. D. Scott. Some of Emily’s points are particularly helpful, especially in times like this when community anxiety is mounting.
Here are just a few of her suggestions:
Your brain won’t work as well.
This week I’ve forgotten what I was doing a thousand times. Stress messes with your sequencing, and ordering your thoughts gets hard. Try to do one thing at a time.
Savor the sweet spots.
It might be snuggling down under the covers when you first wake up or a cup of tea each night, but linger in the moments that give you comfort as long as you can.
Adapt and pivot.
Be as nimble as you can. We’re in a world that looks very different, and our organizations will need to shift to meet new needs. If you’re part of an organization that has a structure set up to serve others, how can that structure reach the most vulnerable, right now?
Trauma will emerge.
I’ve noticed my body and mind shutting down this week, or my emotions racing out ahead of me. We can expect past traumas or current traumas to influence our days. Notice the signals your body’s sending you, and plan in time and energy for this.
Rituals and structures of self care are key.
Meditation at the beginning and end of the day. A long walk. A regular talk with a dear friend. Set up structures that will hold you through this time.
You’re not God.
If you’re the kind who thinks you have to rescue the whole world, remember that we’re in this together… there are people working for good in every setting — hospitals, libraries, schools, grocery stores. You can trust them to do their job, while you do yours.
