What do you need and how will you get it?
What do you need and how will you get it?
Simple ideas for calming the anxiety this week
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For many of us—all of us based in the US, I dare say—this week holds some tension. With a high-stakes election tomorrow, our minds can focus on little else. Or if we are focusing on other things, we feel guilty about letting our minds drift away from the election and the current state of political affairs.
So, what are your plans for the week? Where are you creating a little extra space for big feelings, and how will you care for yourself? What do you need, and how will you get it?
When the world is full of….*gestures wildly around*, our daily grind doesn’t automatically shift to compensate. We still have to sleep, eat, shower, work, care for kids, pets, etc. None of that automatically pauses because it’s election week.
We need to do the work to shift and pause to create extra space where we need it.
My plan
Every Sunday night during my Weekly Round-up (more on how I do this in a few weeks!), I consider what I need or want to happen during the week and I build it into the calendar as I plan around work, appointments, and other scheduled activities.
This week, I’m adding more buffer time for transitions during the day—between meetings, before/after work, to wake up, and to wind down before bed. I’m anticipating that these things might take longer; my brain and body will be holding a lot, and my nervous system will need more time to regulate as it shifts gears, so I’m budgeting for that!
Knowing I’ll have more time for transitions, I’m also making a list of simple things that calm me down or bring me joy that I can use during those transition times.
My list of simple calming actions:
Take a walk: This is my first go-to. Even standing up from my desk and walking to the bathroom is enough sometimes, but 20 minutes outside is better, when I have the time (bonus if it’s sunny).
Go outside: If I can’t get outside, looking out the window is a good second-best.
Drink water: I love coffee and it’s easy to want “another comforting cup of warm coffee” but it’s no secret that caffeine can heighten anxiety so when I’m feeling a little off in the morning, it helps to have some water before
Stretch: As simple as standing up and bending over to touch my toes, maybe taking a few deep breaths stretching my calves against a wall? Any gentle movement that puts my body in a new position for a few minutes will shift my energy.
Write (with pen and paper!): This gets the noise out of my brain and down on paper where I can properly deal with it (or throw it away!).
Sleep: I need lots of sleep and am not always good about getting it (not entirely my fault, thanks to parenting a toddler, but I do stay up late reading more often than I should….). If I’ve had a high-energy or big-feelings-filled day, an early bedtime is SO helpful for me waking refreshed the next day.
What helps you calm down when your anxiety is heightened?
I’m also taking Tuesday off work. While this was a logistical decision made for childcare reasons before considering it was Election Day, I’m thrilled to spend the day with my favorite tiny human. Following her rhythms to eat, rest, and play is something I should do more often.
So tell me, what do you need this week, and how will you get it?
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Hi, I’m Liz! Thanks for being here and reading my journals on the journey. If you’re new, learn a bit more about me and this space here and here, and consider subscribing to my weeklyish posts.
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