Do you ever have one of those moments when you find yourself turning on the tv and before you know it, you fix a big bowl of popcorn, pull out the ice cream, grab a drink or get into a funk? Or maybe you get irritable with a loved one or simply tune someone out.
I looked at the statistics and the impact of the pandemic on mental health since 2020, and it took its toll. It was a difficult and challenging time for everyone. Anxiety and depression increased. Alcohol and drug abuse increased. People turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms to cope with increased stress to the extent their generation has never faced.
For me, it seemed there was one drama after another. I tuned in to see if the world was going to end as I knew it. And the drama didn’t stop – day after day, I tuned in to see what would happen next. Kids took to their electronics in droves as they experienced social isolation and took to virtual learning. They stopped going outside to be with friends, ride bikes, engage in seasonal outdoor activities, go to parks, and find ways to occupy their boredom. My young grandson’s birthday was a parade of cars on his street waving to him. My niece and nephews’ high school and college graduations were no longer a public event as other graduating classes were. Another nephew’s wedding was held without the celebration of friends and family. My granddaughter thought everyone had cooties, babies couldn’t interact with others as they needed to, teachers went home, businesses closed, employees went home, churches shut their doors, and the medical field was in a crisis. The list goes on.
Parents were anxious about the unknown and found means to escape and too often let their children’s minds enter the world of net nannies. It seemed easier that way. But was it? What are the detrimental effects? What is technology’s effect on our health and what is the long-term impact? Did we circumstantially transition deeper into the world of electronics? Is it a tool to advance knowledge or has it become an escape and coping mechanism? I think that all depends.
So much of what goes on around us is out of our control and it is human nature to want to take that control back. Unfortunately, that can take on the form of unhealthy habits. Life can be frustrating and yet all we can control is ourselves and our own choices. Is it possible to have healthy coping mechanisms and at the same time acknowledge our emotions? I think so! I often find myself getting lost in a book that takes me away or will find a still small place to bring myself back to focus through meditation and solitude. When I engage in a healthy habit or coping mechanism, my whole outlook and body feels better. I did something within my control.
I have a small erase board I look at every day that reminds me of healthy choices. I often think about whether my choices are healthy for my body, mind, soul or spirit? Is what I’m putting in my body promoting my health and strength? If not, I remind myself of healthy choices by looking at my erase board.
Maybe it’s playing your favorite music, gazing at the stars, or viewing the sunset and practicing gratitude for another day. Maybe it’s an act of kindness for someone, planning your next trip, taking a class to broaden your horizons, or picking up an old hobby. Maybe it’s digging in the dirt, splashing in puddles, trying a new healthy recipe, calling up a friend you haven’t talked to for a while, or finding a relaxation video or a podcast. No matter what it looks like some days, there is good all around you despite what you hear or see through the media and other social networks.
It’s easy to get out of balance, and when we do, our whole system is affected. What we feed our mind can affect our actions and behaviors. It takes repetition to change something that has been ingrained for a long time. Random thoughts come and go, emotions come and go; however, they can feed behaviors and actions. Our health is multi-faceted – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual and like spokes in a wheel, they each impact the totality of our health. Thoughts can trigger feelings, positive or negative. Staying stuck in negative emotions and thought patterns can affect our bodies and as a result our activities, social interactions and our sense of wellbeing.
So, if you find yourself tuning into electronics more than you used to, re-examine your life. How does it make you feel? Is it helping you reach your goals? I’ve learned it’s okay to take a break when I need to reconnect with myself and go within for inner strength – a time to unplug from news streams, technology and social media.
You can take back your control. We can’t do anything about what’s going on around us, but we have choices. Being kind to yourself in a sometimes-harsh changing world is hard. But you got you and that’s important. You are worth it. Find out what your choices are and get back your control. And when you have a setback realize where it is coming from and take a pause. Reset and go again. Challenge yourself today to live the life that will bring you joy, peace and good health.
Until next time – Read, write and learn….J