HOW TO REMAIN CALM IN CRISIS

Most of the world is facing crisis, of some type, right now. Whether your family has been directly impacted by the current happenings in 2020 or not, I think it’s fair to assume that everyone has felt the impacts of a chaotic world.

I’m a firm believer that we are all individuals who process situations and crisis differently. There is no right or wrong way to process, but there are things we can do to help ourselves feel better through these situations and remain calm in crisis.

STRESS IMPACTS OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Heightened levels of stress can negatively impact your immune system by keeping your body in a constant state of fight or flight. There are healthy levels of stress which allow us to survive. Being aware of the situation, AND funneling that stress into making necessary preparations is a way we can use stress in a positive way.

But when we remain in a state of stress for too long, it starts to hurt our immune system. When we are in a prolonged state of fight or flight, our body overproduces cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol is needed in order to suppress inflammation in our bodies. But with too much of it, that inflammation eventually becomes immune to the cortisol, and our inflammation levels become too high.

High levels of inflammation suppress our immune system, and we lose the ability to fight off bacteria & viruses. Not only that, but chronic inflammation can lead to long term problems like IBS, and autoimmune disease.

Remember, these are just my suggestions. These are the things that work for me, and they may or may not help you! Don’t feel bad if you need to handle things differently.

8 TIPS TO REMAIN CALM IN THE MIDST OF A CRISIS

START YOUR DAY PEACEFULLY

As in – don’t start your day by opening your phone, checking the news and scrolling your social media feed. I am by no means anti-social media, but I’d be pretty willing to bet that those things don’t bring anyone a sense of peace.

Whether or not you’re in a stressful season of life, I would highly encourage you to keep your phone/tv/computer off for at least the first 30-60 minutes after you wake up. I believe you’ll immediately notice a difference in your stress levels throughout the day!

Morning Ideas:

Sit and drink a cup of coffee/tea without scrolling your phone!
Read a book
Journal
Study the Bible
Meditation / Yoga / Stretch

EAT NOURISHING FOODS

I know, I know. It’s hard to eat healthy foods when you’re feeling stressed. I’m by no means saying that you should go on an extreme diet during this time.

There’s nothing wrong with a treat here or there. However, the food we eat directly impacts our emotions, or energy levels and our ability to handle stress.

When you fuel your body with nourishing, whole foods you will be better equipped to remain calm in crisis.

DEVELOP A ROUTINE

Ok, hear me out! You don’t need to schedule every second of your day. But having some sort of routine and structure will be helpful! Even if the extent of that is waking up and going to bed at the same time everyday!

Some things that are important to me in my daily routine:

Wake up at the same time
Brush teeth, and get dressed (comfy clothes but out of pajamas!)
Tea while reading the Bible
Eat Breakfast
Walk my dog
A few hours of work
Eat a healthy dinner
Clean my kitchen
Quality time with my husband in the evening
Go to bed at a reasonable time

GET FRESH AIR

If you are still able to walk outside in your neighbourhood, take advantage of that! We get outside every single day, and it makes such a big difference in my mental health. Even if it’s just a quick 10-15 minute walk, it helps to break up those long days of being stuck inside!

If going out for a walk isn’t an option, open a window for a few minutes to get some fresh air! It’s still very cold where I live in Northern Canada, but I prioritize fresh air every single day. Just opening a window for 10-15 minutes can make your home feel much less stuffy!

TURN OFF THE NEWS

This might be the most controversial tip I’ll share, but I believe it’s the most important! Mainstream media strives to invoke fear & panic amongst people, that’s not a new phenomenon. If you’re spending hours a day watching the news, or reading Facebook articles and posts, there’s a good chance you’re currently feeling very stressed.

I’d challenge you to completely turn off the news. I promise if any important progressions happen, you WILL hear about them from many other sources.

I take a few minutes every few days to update myself on the most important news in my local area, and that’s it!

ALLOW YOURSELF TO FEEL YOUR EMOTIONS

Whether you’re worried about the health of a family member, you’re dissappointed about the cancellation of an event or vacation, or you’re stressed about the loss of a job. You’re allowed to feel those emotions. Don’t believe the lie that someone else has it worse than you, therefore you shouldn’t feel that way.

Everyone’s lives are being affected in some way, and it’s ok to grieve the things that are changing in your life.

REACH OUT TO SOMEONE

If you are really struggling – PLEASE reach out to someone. Stop telling yourself that your problem isn’t big enough, that they won’t care, that they can’t help, etc. REACH OUT TO SOMEONE if you are struggling.

I can promise you that the people in your life DO care. Tell them that you’re struggling. If they offer to help, ACCEPT HELP.

Now, more than ever, we need to lean into our communities and love each other.

On the flip side – if you aren’t struggling but know someone who is. Also reach out to them.

Instead of offering to help, offer a specific way to help. Drop off groceries for a family that has lost a job. Bring a coffee to a mom who is stuck at home all day with kids. Send a “just because” note in the mail to a senior who hasn’t been able to get out.

PREPARE BUT DON’T PANIC

Being prepared for circumstances that are out of your control is responsible. But it can be done without panicking.

Panicking and buying up resources that you don’t need is unnecessary and irresponsible.

Preparing an emergency kit for your home, a long term food storage, a fully stocked Holistic Medicine cabinet, or an emergency fund are all responsible ways you can prepare for any emergency!

Preparing can give you a sense of control in a world that feels chaotic, which may help you remain calm in crisis.

LEAN INTO THINGS THAT BRING YOU JOY AND PEACE

Figure out what things bring you the most joy and peace in your life, and do more of those! Does diffusing an uplifting essential oil blend help your mood? Be sure to do that daily. Do you feel more peaceful with worship music playing through your home? Tap into that. Does connecting with your loved ones over the phone make you feel a sense of normalcy? Prioritize that.

Everyone is going to find peace in different ways. I feel at peace when I’m being creative and productive, without any expectations. Take some time to figure out what brings you the most peace, and be sure to do that daily!