A Few Things That Might Help

At a time where things are beyond your control.

Finding the joys in the daily work, even if it’s a trivial as flowers. But it helps is they are bright, joyful red roses!

It’s been a little harder to sit down and write this week. Everything feels…off. I’ve heard the current climate be likened to March of 2020, where things were standing on a precipice and there was no way of knowing what was about to happen, but you know it’s only going to get worse before it gets better.

Lately, I’ve been heading into the flower studio of a morning and just thinking how silly it is to be playing with flowers while all of this horrendous news is unfolding. How insignificant and non-helpful I’m being. When I relayed these thoughts to my sister, she kindly reminded me that flowers bring joy to others, so I’m holding (clinging too tightly??) onto that and trying to find as much brightness and joy in my daily work as possible.

But like 2020, I’ve somehow found myself doom scrolling the news for updates. I know this isn’t helpful to me, or anyone else, and especially when things are out of my control. So I’ve spent a lot of this week thinking about how I overcame these feelings 6 years ago, what strategies worked, what didn’t and how I can calm my nervous system… but also not fall into the trap of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ because I truly believe turning a blind eye to abhorrent human behaviour has been going on for far too long.

I wanted to share what I’ve been doing in hopes that it might help you too.

Limiting my news scrolling to once per day
And also one media source. I’ve been heading on the ABC’s website, which is an independent broadcaster here in Australia, and while it’s funded by the government, they’re required by law to state facts objectively and without bias. While this may or may not be 100% true all of the time, heading to fear mongering news sites is way worse for my mental health.

Donating where I can for both overseas causes and in my local community.
I know it’s a privilege to be able to donate money and resources, especially with the economy bombing and the interest rate rises we’ve been slapped with here in Australia… a lot of families who were once considered stable are now doing it super tough.

I’ve donated to Choose Love, a humanitarian organisation who help displaced people by providing them basic human needs like medicine, food, shelter, water e.t.c.

I honestly believe if big corporations with big pockets would do more of this it would help move the needle significantly, but since we now understand just who runs the world, and basically all of the corporate world, it’s not surprising in the slightest that empathy, charity and wanting to do good are at the bottom of their lists (sorry that was negative, but I couldn’t help myself)

To help my local community, I plan to give canned goods/non-perishables to a food drive near where I work. Giving back, even in small ways, provides people with things they desperately need and myself with a sense that I’m adding good back into the world when so much of it is being stripped.

Sharing joy through books and TV shows.
I love books. My usual rotation goes something like easy read, ‘thinking’ book, easy read. Sharing book recommendations with others brings me joy, especially when the book I’ve just read I KNOW the person I’m sharing it with will appreciate. and I love the connection having a discussion about the book gives.

At the moment I’m picking up and putting down a “thinking” book. On Our Best Behaviour by Elise Loehnan. A really interesting take on how women have internalised patriarchy through the lens of the 7 deadly sins. A bit heavy, but so relevant for the times we’re living in and I know my sister will love to dive into this once I’ve finished.

I also like sharing a good TV show that you can get lost in. At the moment I’ve been binging 'Young Sherlock’. It’s a bit fantastical, great world building and a lot of escapism. You know Sherlock is going to get into trouble, while also being aware that nothing truly bad will happen and everyone will come out all right in the end.

Cooking
I’ve gotten into the bad habit of picking up connivence foods, things you can just chuck in the oven or microwave and not have to think about. I know these foods are high in salt, processed meats and probably a slew of other things that aren’t good for my gut…which in turn isn’t good for my mental health.

So I’ve turned it around this week. The slow, methodical monotony of cooking brings me back into my body and creating a meal plan and shopping for it feels like a sense of control which can feel super soothing at a time where I feel so out of it.

Taking extra time to have a little conversation
I’m an introvert at heart. My daily interactions with people I don’t know are pleasant and kind, but I don’t usually go out of my way to engage. I’m talking daily interactions like a waiter at a new coffee shop or the person who’s working at the self checkout at the shops e.t.c. But I’m making more of a conscious effort to engage in a conversation or provide a compliment, just things that might build even a little bit of positive human connection.

I’d love to hear in the comments any strategies you have of your own, even a little thing can help others who may read it.