Creatives Share on Self-Care
We are writers. As such, it’s our job to help make the world more understandable to those inhabiting it, or, alternatively, offer an escape from a reality that seems daily to grow more frightening.
This calling we’ve chosen requires us to be our best selves as often as we can. Still, we’re all human and, given that the world as we know it has turned sideways, we’ll all flounder at times.
But there are ways you can help yourself keep your health and your energy and your optimism intact. Here are some ideas garnered from the interwebs:
1) “New self care: talk to myself the way I talk to dogs,” says author Mackenzi Lee, giving examples: “hi sweet girl,” “ur so chubby and cute,” “want a treat?” and so on. That’s much better, certainly, than what I say to myself, including, at this moment, “You idiot. Why is it taking you so long to write this blog?”
2) Writer Haley Goldberg recommends journaling to deal with the great, “Not Knowing,” deep end we’ve all been dunked in. Worry is exhausting: “Will I have enough cupcakes for the duration?” “When will I be able see my first-responder friend again?” “How will I be able to go back to work?” Write down every question. Answer the ones you can. Leave the others blank. Simply acknowledging the uncertainty makes it easier to live with.
3) Put your pants on. Or, if you don’t put your pants on, don’t stand up on Zoom chats. You’d think that would go without being said, but…it seems like it’s news to Good Morning America reporter Will Reeve.
4) Teacher Rita Platt’s homework recommendation is laughter. (Or as my husband asked this morning, “How many nuts does it take to put together a fence? One.”) They don’t have to be good jokes. And they don’t have to come from you. But laughter can lighten your load.
5) When all else fails, here’s comedian Brandon Wardell’s advice:
What can possibly go wrong?