Taking care of your emotional health during COVID

We have all had an intense shift in focus on our physical health and social interactions over the past 6 weeks due to COVID 19. Many have also been impacted financially, as well. With this shift, there is a collective state of trauma and numb that is happening to most of us. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of looking at your health during these times through a holistic lens. Your mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health are intricately interwoven and giving all of your attention to one can really leave the others parched and desperate for attention.

So how do you keep a balance? The answer- notice, pay attention to how you are feeling in all these areas. This may seem simplistic and questionable on effectiveness, but trust me…the more you pay attention to how you are feeling, the more you can make choices around your behaviors.

When we don’t take the time to notice how we are feeling, we often find ourselves engaged in behaviors that help us to escape or avoid the feeling or internal experience we are having. Typical behaviors that occur as a way to escape or avoid are procrastination, isolation, overeating or under-eating, drinking alcohol in excess, excessive drug use, or simply zoning out. Although these often bring short-term, immediate relief to the painful internal experience, they rarely move people in the direction of their values.

By noticing the feelings we are experiencing we can then be more intentional in the choices we make around them. As a result, you can behave in ways that actually move you in the direction of your values instead of away from them.

The power of noticing…give it a try if you are not engaging in already. It can be a game changer, especially in these difficult times of holistic health imbalances.