As a raging storm ravages the landscape of sandy beaches, COVID ravages our world, exposing our root structure of relationships, culture, economy, belief systems, and resilience.
With Delta COVID continuing to erode the shorelines of our lives, much that was normal and familiar has been washed away.
Current life choices available to us may not be as we want them to be, but we are all capable of functioning in a way that is mindful and respectful of ourselves, of others, and humanity at large.
As human beings, we seek answers to make sense of what is happening to us. When clarity is not forthcoming our wellbeing is impacted; mind, body, and soul.
If you are feeling ‘blah’, anxious, angry, or discombobulated by the continual uncertainty of the day-to-day reality of living in a COVID world, this is now a new normal we are experiencing.
How can we nurture and nourish our wellbeing during these times?
Maintaining healthy wellbeing requires self-awareness and self-care. For some that may be a soak in a bath, for others a punching bag. News updates and social media viewing will not achieve this, particularly when watching repetitive news items that arouse fear and anxiety.
When we experience stress our bodies register that there is a threat to our safety and our nervous system is designed to enter a fight, flight, or freeze stress response. Heart rate increases, muscles tense, breath quickens, and our senses are on full alert. However, if we remain in this heightened stress mode for an extended time, our wellbeing is compromised by its effect on sleep patterns, digestion, and emotional and mental health.
This may be your reality, right now.
Whilst in extended lockdowns we are often more inactive than normal. This can cause our brain to register a safety alert that something is not as it should be and our body becomes primed to run from or fight the perceived threat. Just the threat of a possible snap lockdown can trigger a biological response. When our nervous system becomes overwhelmed by being in a constant alert mode we can experience pandemic fatigue.
What can we learn from animals?
When an animal senses the presence of something unexpected their body moves into full alert mode. Is it a sign of danger? Is it the harmless sound of wind in the trees?
All nervous energy is directed to the body function required to survive!
Once safety is achieved, or the perceived danger is identified as non-threatening, the animal will physically quiver to release the excess energy from the stress response in its body.
Yes! They will 'shake their booty’ to allow the body to return to a state of rest and rebalance the nervous system.
What could ‘shake one's booty' look like for you?
Laugh, dance, jump on a trampoline, swing from a tree branch - whatever works for you - the desired outcome is to achieve a healthy release of stress-induced energy. Calming activities such as mindfulness, breathing techniques and yoga are also beneficial.
Give yourself compassionate attention, your wellbeing will thank you for it!
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