Written by Sammy D’Ambrosio. According to the American Psychological Association, “Women are more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression, while men tend toward substance abuse or antisocial disorders”. Women “are more likely to internalize emotions, which typically results in withdrawal, loneliness and depression.” After all, as women we are continuously juggling being a mom, sister, wife, partner, friend, and having a career at the same time! Sometimes we get caught up in all the labels of who we are supposed to be and forget that just being is okay. Especially in the post-pandemic world we are living in right now, but there are things to help you from dwelling on negative thoughts in the midst of having to balance it all.
Here are some tried and tested tips to get you started:
Meditation. When you meditate, you calm your mind by focusing on your breath. Taking slow and controlled deep inhales and exhales naturally calms your nervous system which allows your body and mind to take a break from the stresses and anxiety that have been building up. The good thing, is that you can meditate from anywhere at any time. All you need is a few minutes to quiet your thoughts and focus in on yourself. For beginners, you could try the Insight Timer app, as it has a plethora of guided meditations, healing music, relaxation courses, and other resources.
Creation. Creation is the purpose of life. It is all around us and can reestablish hope for the future, for anyone, from all walks of life and mental states of being. Whether you want to create a master painting, draw some doodles, write a story, make a TikTok, design your garden, redecorate your room or house, learn a new skill, or even play a game with some friends, family or furry creature, all kinds of creativity comes with multiple mental benefits. These benefits include stress relief, problem solving, out of the box thinking, increased focus, a sense of accomplishment and pride, increased confidence, and mood stability. Especially when transitioning back from the new norm to a hybrid newer norm as we come through the pandemic, expressing your creativity can be an essential ingredient to managing your overall wellbeing.
Diet. Maintaining a healthy and well-balanced diet is also essential. Think of your body as a well-oiled machine where if you do not keep the parts regularly checked and used in moderation, they could start to break down. Similarly balancing natural foods with the urge of junk food can help keep the machine running more smoothly. Think of what you put into your body as what will come out. If you treat your diet with love and variation, then your body will react accordingly. You could start by making sure your meals contain various colors of the rainbow, for example combining your reds (such as beetroot, strawberries or bell pepper), with something orange (say carrots), with yellow (lemon, squash, onion), with leafy greens (think spinach, kale, cucumber, zucchini, bell pepper (gotta love that bell pepper), and finally your blues and purples (blueberries, figs, grapes). Maintaining healthy, balanced meals provide lots of essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to keep being that well-oiled machine in tact so you can feel your best!
Exercise. Exercising on a regular basis can help you sustain wellness from mind to body. It is proven to increase your self-esteem, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, improve mental clarity, and become overall happier. Think of exercise as a physically creative way to meditate! You could participate in some sports groups in your area, go to the gym, for a run or hike, swim, or try some yoga. Regardless of what you do to stay active, make sure you do this with regularity, are being safe and listening to your body.
Finally, find your balance. You don’t have to start meditating every second you feel anxious, come up with all these new creative projects that you can’t finish, strictly eat only healthy foods from the earth that come in the colors of the rainbow, or exercise to the point where you can’t move. Incorporating just one of these things into your daily routine will change your mindset immensely and help you break free from toxic thoughts and patterns that are holding you back. So, what are you waiting for? Unleash your inner #GoddessofGoGetting and start your journey to Be Bold. Be You. Be Uma.