What is covid fatigue and how can I look after my heart?
5 mindful ways of being in the world when all around seems too much, too chaotic, too overwhelming.
Hello my friend,
How are you today? I have two tea cups ready - one for you and one for me. Would you like me to pour the tea? I do have a lot to share to day, so you may find yourself drinking 2 cups!
Firstly, did you get a chance to read Why is it important to remember beautiful things? and How to get rid of the stuff that gathers in your heart?
I wish you to remember your hearts basket
as we chat about COVID fatigue / COVID burnout and what you can do to help alleviate this.
So what is covid fatigue/covid burnout?
For some it is the constant feeling of being overwhelmed because of the pandemic. Of being constantly exhausted and
mentally and emotionally fatigued.
For others it is the feeling that you are more irritated, frustrated, annoyed and helpless As though there is no light at the end of the tunnel,
As though you are free-falling into the abyss of emptiness and endlessness and the same-old-same-old over and over again.
Or, you maybe under financial strain and stress and despite the government contributions you are still unable to make ends meet
or you are falling through the gaps and are unable to get financial assistance.
It might be the current loss of a dream / career / passion (eg being an actor, musician, performer) because of the pandemic and the uncertainty of “will I ever be able to do that again”.
For others it might be because you live by yourself and while this maybe a wonderful thing, because of the pandemic you might be feeling isolated, alone, and lonely.
For some it is the pressure of working / studying full time and having to be a teacher as well. On-line education in this way is both demanding, tiring and exhausting for everyone - children, parents and teachers. And this only seems to add more pressure and stress on you, your work performance, your parenting skills, your relationships, your energy and your self care routines.
For others the fatigue and exhaustion, the burnout and the strain maybe because of the worry of not seeing loved ones, elderly parents, family members. Or of not being able to come home because you are caught overseas or interstate. Or feeling trapped as you can only stay 5km in your area. Or the constant stresses of nursing the sick, the acute, the dying.
And then for others it is the fear of contracting COVID, the sorrow of not being able to go to funerals, the sorrow of not being able to hold your loved ones hands as they have to be in hospital, have procedures, get married, take their last breath.
While for others social distancing, the pandemic and everything about it is bringing up past fears, pain and hurts.
Whatever you feel, know that it is valid.
It is real.
And that it is important to
Reach Out
if you feel you need extra support.
I would like to offer you 5 simple self-care suggestions to help increase your sense of mindfulness, joy and inner balance. *
Self Care Suggestion 1: Step outside and walk slowly
As you step outside I invite you to walk VERY SLOWLY. 1/2 your normal pace. Try even 1/4 of your normal pace. What do you notice? How do you feel? What colours can you see? What smells can you smell? What sounds can you hear? How many cobwebs can you see? or bees? or kookaburras? or children doing handstands in the sand?
Getting out and OBSERVING your natural environment in slow motion is so important for your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being.
PLUS, it helps you find special treasures - feathers, stones, leaves to bring home and remind you of the outside when you feel caught on the inside.
Self care suggestion 2: Cook a beautiful meal
Imagine it is your best friends birthday and all they want is you to cook for them and to share a lovely long slow meal together. Imagine the scrumptious, wholesome, delicious foods you would cook. Imagine the conversation you would have. Now I invite you to cook this divine meal for yourself and serve it and eat it as though your best friend is there beside you.
May you cook with love and eat with mindfulness.
Self care suggestion 3: Dance like no-one is watching
There is something truly wonderful when you can just close your eyes and move your body to the beat that is playing in your heart/ head. Move. Sway. Stomp. Wriggle. Shake it out. Pirouette it. Tribal dance it. Do the crazy dance around the fire dance. It doesn’t really matter what it looks like. I can vouch that it feels AMAZING and shifts your energy exponentially.
Self care suggestion 4: Make a pot/cup of tea
The act of consciously boiling the kettle, choosing the herbs or flavours, filling the tea pot, turning the pot three times one way and one the other and then waiting that extra bit, is a mindful meditation in and of itself. And then when you take the first sup and smell the aroma and taste the flavour. Ahhhh… that is something special.
And then when you have your tea all ready, ring a friend and have a long long LONG conversation about life and love and cups of tea, and gardens and flowers and how your heart is feeling, and how delicious your tea is and how silly your hair looks and what a wonderful book you have just read, and what flowers are blooming and what phase of the moon we are in and and and….
Self care suggestion 5: Do a meditation and have a healing
Meditation has many tangible benefits from reducing your blood pressure, to decreasing pain and improving the immune system. It helps you gain clarity, increases moods, balances emotions and improves sleep to name just a few benefits.
I hope you have downloaded your Free Meditation Guide.
I have written some short self healing courses that you may find very useful at this time..
FINALLY,
you may feel that now is the time to have a healing / soul retrieval. If I can help you in any way at this time, I would be honoured.
Finally PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR local doctor, mental health care workers and to the crisis help lines if you feel you need extra support. I have included relevant numbers below
Until we meet again,
where our hearts can feel safe
blessed be
Sam x
Important phone numbers to have on hand:
Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1800 51 23 48
Domestic Violence Line: 1800 65 64 63
1800 Respect: 1800 73 77 32
Emergency - 000