2020 has been rough. For everyone. Much ink has been spilled describing the collective trauma and lack of productivity we are experiencing as a society. Illness, economic insecurity, loneliness, isolation, depression, anxiety, and fear are both cause and effect of our poor mental health in the midst of this global pandemic.
I don’t know about you, but the thing I want most is to have some sense of control and right now, there’s not much in my control so I’ve taken to the basics for making myself feel better. Everyday – drink water, write some stuff down (so I don’t forget things), eat vegetables, move my body, breathe.
I’ve combine the moving my body with breathing in the act of a morning walk – most days – to the lake where I sit in the quiet and practice breathing. Early in the pandemic, I also started snapping a picture so that when I’m not at the lake, I can still practice breathing. (Yes, I know I can breath without the lake but somehow this feels better.)
It’s not a complicated practice (and sometimes I dismiss simple as “not good enough”) but it does seem to be doing the trick. It’s making me feel less anxious in what continue to be very anxious times. A few weeks ago Brené Brown interviewed Emily and Amelia Nagoski on Burnout and How to Complete the Stress Cycle. It was fascinating (highly recommend!) and reaffirmed that breathing is good – for your mind and body. Pretty lakes don’t hurt either.