Intro by Skip Cohen
It’s excellent news; the vaccine has been released. At least with the start of the new year, there’s a little light at the end of the tunnel. But returning to “normal” is a long way off. So, while it’s definitely good news, the stress and pressure of running a business aren’t about to disappear with the flip of a switch.
That means, now more than ever, you’ve got to take care of yourself. Wandering through Sarah Petty’s archives, I found the post below, and while each point is relevant, I especially like taking a break from the news and finding “me” time.
Sheila and I discovered months ago that being obsessed with watching the news each night was genuinely bringing us down. We’d watch two different newscasts, then share what we’d both read, then check our state’s virus numbers and finish with whatever came in our email. Last but not least there was whatever friends told us they heard.
Years ago, I wrote a post about getting the “negators” out of your life and surrounding yourself with positive people. Well, the news media shares everything, and none of us know who to believe anyway. I’m not saying they need to sugarcoat information, but good news doesn’t sell like bad news!
So, we hunkered down, watched out for each other, and stopped watching the news! You have to do what you’re most comfortable with, but for us, being very exclusive on what news we watch, read and share has made a huge difference.
Next on my favorites, “me” time – in our case, we’ve made it “we” time, and while we desperately miss family and friends, we’re keeping in touch via online and the phone. “Social distancing” really isn’t correct – it should be physical distancing because we still need to be social. (Bob Coates gets credit for that one, and he’s so right.)
Here’s my point – and Sarah hits it hard in the first paragraph: You can’t be any good helping other people if you’re not taking care of yourself. That includes getting enough sleep and recognizing when you’re about to crash and burn – TAKE THAT IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY BREAK!
By Sarah Petty
It goes to say that if you want to do a good job helping other people, then the first person you need to help is yourself. Self-care is important to maintain your self-esteem, confidence and your relationship with yourself so you’re better equipped to transmit those positive feelings to others. Here are some tips for self-care.
Exercise at home. Most gyms across the nation are closed, but that doesn’t give you an excuse to skip your exercise. You can have a workout right there in your home with little to no equipment. Peloton is doing a free 90 day trial of their workout app. I use it and IT’S REALLY GOOD! You can use it to try yoga, HIIT, stretching, strength training, cycling and more. Best of all, you don’t need any Peloton equipment to use the app.
Help a restaurant out with no delivery fee take out. Want to give yourself a break from the kitchen while helping support your local eateries? UberEats is offering zero delivery fees for independently-owned restaurants right now during the Coronavirus emergency.
Take a break from the news. By temporarily disconnecting from news sources (yes, that includes social media), you can distance yourself from the anxiety, overwhelm and negativity that surrounds it.
Enjoy some “Me” time. Doing an activity you enjoy is important for your self-care, whether that’s a hobby or simply soaking in a hot tub. Carve out some time in your day for “me” time. You deserve it.
Practice journaling. Putting your thoughts on paper is probably one of the best ways to help you work through your thoughts, feelings, and challenges. You can also practice gratitude journaling to shift your mind away from fear and towards appreciation and love.
