We can all agree that 2020 was a year like no other; testing our resolve in the face of adversity in more ways than one, and illuminating the incredible ability of humans to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Most of us lead hectic lives regularly, even without such catastrophic events as global pandemics. That’s why, as we move ahead into a brand new year it’s important to take a moment to reassess yourself – mentally, physically and emotionally.
Our team at PufCreativ believes in the power of communication and transparency. From our business relationships, to our relationships with our friends, family and the outside world, being honest with oneself and others involves many things including the willingness to look inside in order to gain progress. This is why we created the Mental Health Check 2021 guide – in hopes of helping folks who may be struggling during these difficult times.
You may not know it, but you might be dealing with harmful issues such as burnout, COVID-related stress, and social media fatigue. Keep reading for some tips on how to cope with these things, in a natural way.
Dealing With Burnout
We’ve all experienced some type of burnout throughout our lives. Whether reeling from the demands of high school or college, trying to compete in the working rat race, or maintaining the energy to keep up with your kids — all these things (among a million others) can be responsible for causing burnout. Don’t worry, though, it’s natural!
Our modern existence has made society believe in the lie that we must always be in a constant state of motion. Moving from one task to the next, this fast-paced ‘norm’ has increased exponentially, which hasn’t made things better for mental and emotional health.
There are many things you can do to combat burnout in a healthy way, the first of which is acceptance:
- If you’re feeling like there is an obstacle in front of you that you can’t overcome because you’re so overwhelmed, the best thing to do is to acknowledge that it’s ok.
For those of us that were suddenly thrown into the ‘work-from-home’ lifestyle, it’s easy to get caught in a rut. If you’re feeling burnt out, allow yourself the space to take a step back and reformat your perspective:
- If you can, designate one room that is just for work, and do not enter that room unless you’re at work. For those who don’t have that luxury, after you’ve dressed for work, get in your car and drive around the block. When you re-enter your home, consider yourself to be at work. At the end of the day, close up shop, get in your car, and drive around the block on your way home.
Perhaps the most useful action when dealing with burnout is changing up your routine in an effort to cut down on monotony.
How to Manage Social Media Fatigue
Next on the Mental Health 2021 Checklist is figuring out how to effectively deal with and manage social media fatigue. More and more folks are making their living online, using the internet for commerce in increased ways, and in general are spending enormous amounts of time interacting with social media on various platforms. If you’re feeling mentally and emotionally tired from your social media footprint/timestamp — don’t worry — you are certainly not alone.
There are ways keep your social media attachment in check, including these helpful tips:
- Step away, re-evaluate, and come back to it, maybe, if and only when you are happy with being back.
- It is impossible to manage all the various channels and get informative and useful content out, at the right time, all the time.
Removing oneself from the online world and stepping fully into the real world for an extended period of time is the best action you can take. Disconnect in your own time, so that you may connect again later in more meaningful ways!
Coping with COVID-19 Related Stress
Last, but certainly not least: the global pandemic known as Covid-19 has become the ever-present (and highly visible) ‘elephant in the room’, affecting nearly every single person, place, and business on an international scale. We’re all in this together, and that is perhaps the single most important defense against this unimaginable world event.
You might be feeling helpless (as many of us have been for the better part of a year), but you’re not out of hope, because the amazing network of humans is working overtime to provide relief to those in need — including these tips:
- When difficulties are overwhelming, try reaching out to others who can provide support. There are a few different ways you could do this. One is simply by talking about what you’re going through. Another approach is to ask specifically for instrumental help, such as information, advice or help with daily tasks.
- In the case of the current pandemic, of course you can’t fight its existence, but by gently accepting it with all its limitations and unpleasantness, you’ll have the opportunity to turn your attention to the things over which you do have control.
- Try asking yourself questions such as ‘What can I learn from this situation?’, ‘What opportunity is there for me to grow?’, ‘What could be beneficial about this negative event?’, and ‘Is there anything I can be grateful for?’
It is no question that the world is forever changed by the events of 2020, however it’s up to us to make sure we’re changing the world for the better. We are resilient, and we will adapt!
Microdosing: Hemp & Cannabis
In addition to the above-mentioned tips highlighting natural ways to deal with issues such as burnout, social media fatigue, and Covid-19 related stress — many people are turning to another natural option present in nature: hemp & cannabis. While this is not entirely a surprise, it’s important to understand that there are proper ways to approach this alternative route to self-care, including microdosing. According to a recent article by registered dietician nutritionist, food industry consultant, and registered cannabis consultant, Bonnie Thompson, MS, RDN:
- Microdosing is especially appealing to patients who want to treat anxiety disorders because of its limited intoxicating effect and the ability to treat anxiety in multiple small doses throughout the day.
Hemp and cannabis can be an effective tool to aid with your battle against burnout — however, always be sure to consult your physician before making any changes to your health or fitness regimen.
Check out the Mental Health Check 2021 PDF!
Be sure to check out our official Mental Health Check 2021 guide to learn more about the issues mentioned in this blog. From all of us at PufCreativ, we sincerely hope these resources are helpful in providing some relief for those that are suffering.
Resources
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Check out our Mental Health Check 2021 PDF!
